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AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE 




LABOURS AND SUFFERINGS OF THE MORAVIAN MISSIONARIES 
AMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



BY REV. WILLIAM M, WILLETT, 



In yon world of stream and shade 
Many an Indian wigwam trace, 

And with words of love persuade 
Savages' to sue for grace.'' 

Evangelical Minstrel 



> 



iNEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED BY G. LANE & P. P. SANDFORD, 

For the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 

at the Conference Office, 200 Mulberry-street. 

/. Collord, Printer. 
1842. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by 
G. Lane & P. P. Sandford, in the Clerk's Office of the District 
Court of the Southern District of New-York. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

Formation of the first Moravian mission in Georgia — 
Prosperity of the settlement at Ebenezer, until finally aban- 
doned on account of war between Great Britain and Spain — 
Foundation of Bethlehem and Nazareth — Arrival of Chris- 
tian Henry Rauch at New-York — His settlement at Sheko- 
meko — His success, notwithstanding violent opposition — Ar- 
rival of other missionaries from Germany — Their meekness 
and humility — Extent and increasing interest of the work in 
Shekomeko and the adjacent country — Sketches of converted 
Indians — Increased persecutions of the brethren — Death of 
the missionary Buettner — Expulsion of the brethren from 
Shekomeko by the assembly of New- York — Their retirement 
to Bethlehem Page 9 

CHAPTER II. 

Preparations for the removal of the Indians from Sheko- 
meko to Pennsylvania — Settlement of the first emigration at 
Friedenshutten — Commencement of Gnadenhutten — Its ra- 
pid growth — Mahony is built in its vicinity — Gnadenhutten 
much visited on account of its neatness, regularity, and 
beauty — The Stranger's Inn — Embassy of the Nauticoks and 
Shawanese — Manner of religious instruction at Gnadenhut- 
ten — Sketches of Indian character and eloquence — Rebuild- 
ing of the chapel — Spirit of the Moravians 39 

CHAPTER III. 
Excursions of the brethren — Their sufferings in their jour- 
neys — Death of the Rev. Bishop Cammerhof — The French 
encroachments upon the British colonies — Their success in 



b SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

securing the friendship and alliance of the Indians — The In- 
dians at Gnadenhutten invited by the Iroquois to remove to 
Wyoming — They refuse, and are threatened — The brethren 
remain quite unconscious of danger — Commencement of the 
" old French war" — Attack upon Mahony — Its destruction — 
Desertion of Gnadenhutten, and its utter ruin by the hostile 
Indians — The brethren seek an asylum at Bethlehem Page 53 

CHAPTER IV. 

The old French war and its ravages — Murder of Francis 
Hill — Preparations for defence at Bethlehem — The immi- 
nent danger of that settlement — Its preservation by the care 
and watchfulness of the friendly Indians — Christian Frede- 
rick Post employed by the government of Pennsylvania to 
negotiate a peace with the Indians — Establishment of Nain 
and Wechquetank — Strange fanatical opinion of the white 
people respecting the war — Wechquetank abandoned — Ar- 
rest of Renatus — The Christian Indians removed to Phila- 
delphia for protection — Massacre of the Canestoga Indians — 
The Indians on Province Island threatened with a similar 
fate — They are sent to New-York, but are refused admittance 
into that territory by the governor — They are brought back to 
Philadelphia — Their danger from a mob — Prompt exertions 
of the government and citizens in their behalf — This danger 
being passed, they suffer from sickness — Their resignation — 
They are permitted to depart — Their farewell address 69 

CHAPTER V. 

The Indian congregation, having left Philadelphia, take 
leave of their brethren at Nain and Bethlehem, and proceed 
to a new home in the wilderness — Their journey ; its perils, 
privations, and religious comforts — They found Friedenshut- 
ten — Their numbers increase — Progress of the gospel — A 
missionary settled at Sheshequon — Troubles with white tra- 
ders—Hazardous and fatiguing expedition of Zeisberger — 
The forsaken village — The hermit hunter — Zeisberger ar- 
rives at Goschgoshing — Depraved character of the Indians at 



SCENE* IN" THE WILDERNESS. i 

that place — They acknowledge the truth of the gospel — A 
inission established at Goschgoshing — The brethren now 
meet with opposition — Conversion of Allemewi — Departure 
from Goschgoshing., and settlement at Lawunakhannek — 
Spiritual prosperity of this congregation — The Indian orator, 
Glichican — Removal to the Big Beaver — The new town, 
Friedenstadt increases greatly - Page 91 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Iroquois sell the tract of land including Friedenshut- 
len to the English — The Indians are driven from this town, 
and resolve to emigrate westward — Friendship of the great 
Delaware chieftain, Netawatwees — He offers them land in 
his territory on the Muskingum — Its beautiful location— The 
last religious services in Friedenshutten — The long and te- 
dious journey to Friedenstadt, and from thence to their new 
residence — The pleasant village, Shoenbrun, and the new 
Gnadenhutten, built on the banks of the Muskingum — Frie- 
denstadt abandoned — Encouraging prospects — Death of An- 
thony — War between the Indians and Virginians — Danger 
of the missionaries and their settlements — Their joy and 
thanksgiving on the establishment of peace - - 119 

CHAPTER VII. 

A third mission settlement formed at Lichtenau — Conver- 
sion and death of Netawatwees — His funeral obsequies — 
Prosperity and beauty of the settlements, Shoenbrun and 
Lichtenau — Testimony of Colonel Morgan to the beneficial 
influence of the labours of the brethren — War of the revolu- 
tion — The Indians leave Shoenbrun and Gnadenhutten for a 
season — Their return — The inhabitants of Lichtenau remove 
to a new town, called Salem — Instances of remarkable reli- 
gious enjoyment — New calamities — A conspiracy formed by 
the English against the brethren — The half-king of the Hu- 
rons engaged in the enterprise — The unexpected arrival of 
the Indian warriors at Salem — Elliot's duplicity — Council at 
Gnadenhutten — The half-king desires the Christian Indians 



8 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

to leave their villages, and accompany him — They decline— 
The missionaries taken prisoners — The three settlements 
broken up — Departure for Sandusky ... Page 138 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Journey of the missionaries and their congregations to 
Sandusky — They encounter a violent storm — Arrival at Up- 
per Sandusky — The desolate and barren appearance of the 
country — Their sufferings — Mockery of the neighbouring In- 
dians — The missionaries summoned to Detroit — They are 
there kindly treated, and return in peace — They suffer from 
scarcity of provisions — The Indians return to their forsaken 
towns for corn — Shabosh and another Indian slain by the 
whites — The white people treacherously persuade the In- 
dians to accompany them — The inhuman massacre — Return 
of the fugitives 169 

CHAPTER IX. 

The brethren take leave of the congregation at Sandusky 
— The Christian Indians expelled from that region — A mis- 
sion settlement established on the River Huron — Unexpected 
aid— Severity of the winter — Providential discovery — Four 
years of prosperity — Opposition of the Chippeways to the 
Christian Indians' longer residence in their country — Re- 
moval to the Cuyahoga River — They are compelled to flee to 
Canada — The town of Fairfield built — Shoenbrun rebuilt, 
and called Goshen — Last days of Zeisberger — His peaceful 
death — Ineffectual efforts to establish new missions among 
the savages — Spring Place and New-Fairfield — Conclu- 
sion 192 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Fast, fast recedes our native land ; 

Hush'd is the parting song, 
That brings to our united band 

The farewell of the throng. 

In the spring of 1734* a company of Mora- 
vian brethren,! sixteen in number, under the 
guidance of Mr. Spangenberg, one of their pas- 
tors, (afterward a bishop of that church,) arrived 
in Georgia, North America. They had been 
invited to emigrate, in the capacity of mission- 
aries, to this new colony, by the English " So- 
ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in 
Foreign Parts," and had been offered by the 
trustees of Georgia, of whom General James 
Oglethorpe was the most active and influential 

* According to Bancroft ; others say 1735. Mr. Ban- 
croft, doubtless, has examined the original documents 
with care. 

t Moravians is the name which is commonly given to a 
religious community which originated in Bohemia in the 



10 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

member, every inducement and facility for the 
promotion of their object — " a free passage ; pro- 
visions in Georgia for a whole season ; land for 
themselves and their children, free for ten years, 
then to be held for a small quit-rent ; the pri- 
vileges of native Englishmen ; freedom of wor- 
ship; — these were the promises made, accepted, 
and honourably fulfilled." 

" On the last day of October, 1733, ' the 
evangelical community,' well supplied with 
Bibles and hymn-books, catechisms and books 
of devotion, — conveying in one wagon their 
few chattels, in two other covered ones their 
feebler companions, and especially their little 

fourteenth century. They regarded the Scriptures as 
their rule of faith ; rejected the popish doctrine of tran- 
substantiation ; and were very strict in their discipline. 
They had their bishops, seniors, presbyters, and deacons, 
who administered their civil as well as ecclesiastical 
affairs. During the " thirty years' war," which occurred 
in the early part of the seventeenth century, their settle- 
ments in Bohemia and Moravia were utterly destroyed, 
and their descendants, after various migrations, were set- 
tled, in 1722, by Count Zinzendorf, on his estate of Beth- 
elsdorf, in Upper Lusatia, where their colony took the 
name of Herrnhut. 

The Moravians, or, as they call themselves, " The 
United Brethren," are chiefly distinguished in modern 
times for their zeal in carrying the gospel to the hea- 
then. — Ed. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 11 

ones, — after a discourse, and prayer, and bene- 
dictions, cheerfully, and in the name of God, 
began their pilgrimage."* 

They arrived at Charleston March 18th, 
1734, at which place " Oglethorpe bade them 
welcome. In five days more the wayfaring 
men, whose home was beyond the skies, pitched 
their tents near Savannah. 

" It remained to select for them a residence. 
To cheer their principal men as they toiled 
through the forest, and across brooks, Ogle- 
thorpe, having provided horses, himself joined 
the little party. By the aid of blazed trees and 
Indian guides, he made his way through mo- 
rasses ; a fallen tree served as a bridge over a 
stream, which the horses swam for want of a 
ford. At night he encamped with them abroad 
round a fire, and shared every fatigue, till the 
spot for their village was chosen ; and, like the 
little stream which formed its border, was 
named Ebenezer. There they built their dwell- 
ings, and there they resolved to raise a column 
of stone, in token of gratitude to God, whose 
providence had brought them safely to the ends 
of the earth. "f 

* Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. iii, 
p, 423. 

t Bancroft's History, vol. iii, p. 426, 



12 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

The missionaries commenced their labours 
by preaching among the Indians of the Creek 
nation, many of whom resided on an island 
called Irene, about five miles from the town of 
Savannah, and possessed a tolerable knowledge 
of the English language. They also established 
a school for the education of the children ; and 
for some time their prospects were very en- 
couraging. 

On February 6th, 1736, another company of 
Moravians arrived. In the vessel which brought 
them, as well as other emigrants to Georgia, 
were John and Charles Wesley. The follow- 
ing is Mr. Wesley's first mention of them in 
his Journal : — 

" Friday, 17th. I began to learn German, in 
order to converse with the Germans, six and 
twenty of whom we had on board."* 

In his Journal, dated Sunday, January 25, he 
gives the following testimonial of their humility 
and resignation to the divine will : — " At seven 
I went to the Germans. I had long before ob- 
served the great seriousness of their behaviour. 
Of their humility they had given a continual 
proof, by performing those servile offices for 
the other passengers, which none of the Eng- 
lish would undertake ; for which they desired, 
* Wesley's Works, vol. hi, p. 14. 



SCENES IN" THE WILDERNESS- 13 

and would receive no pay, saying, ' It was 
good for their proud hearts,' and ' their loving 
Saviour had done more for them.' And every 
day had given them occasion of showing a 
meekness which no injury could move. If 
they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, 
they rose again, and went away ; but no com- 
plaint was found in their mouth. There was 
now an opportunity of trying whether they were 
delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from 
that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst 
of the psalm wherewith their service began, the 
sea broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, 
covered the ship, and poured in between the 
decks, as if the great deep had already swal- 
lowed us up. A terrible screaming began 
among the English ; the Germans calmly sung 
on. I asked one of them afterward, ' Was you 
not afraid V He answered, ' I thank God, no.' 
I asked, ' But were not your women and children 
afraid?' He replied mildly, 'No; our women 
and children are not afraid to die.' "* 

After a stormy voyage, the vessel came to 
anchor in the Savannah River, near Tybee 
Island; " where," says Mr. Wesley, "the groves 
of pines, running along the shore, made an 

* Weslev's Work?, vol iii, p. 17. 



14 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS, 

agreeable prospect, showing, as it were, the 
bloom of spring in the depth of winter." 

" At once General Oglethorpe visited the 
Moravians at Ebenezer, to praise their good 
husbandry, and to select the site of their new 
settlement ; of which the lines were no sooner 
drawn, and the streets laid out by an engineer, 
than huts covered with bark rose up as a shel- 
ter, and the labours of the field were renewed. 
In a few years the produce of raw silk by the 
Germans amounted to ' a considerable quan- 
tity ;' and indigo also became a staple. In 
earnest memorials they deprecated the employ- 
ment of negro slaves, pleading the ability of 
the white man to toil even under the suns of 
Georgia. Their religious affections bound them 
together in the unity of brotherhood ; their 
controversies were decided among themselves : 
every event of life had its moral ; and the fer- 
vour of their worship never disturbed their 
healthy tranquillity of judgment. They were 
cheerful, and at peace."* 

War breaking out between Great Britain 
and Spain interrupted the labours of the bre- 
thren. Though specially exempted, in the 
agreement made with the trustees of Georgia, 
from military service, yet so great appears to 
* Bancroft, vol. iii, p. 430. 



SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 15 

have been the dissatisfaction occasioned by 
their refusal to serve in the approaching con- 
test, that the missionaries resolved to abandon 
their flourishing settlements. This step was 
taken very reluctantly in the year 1739. 

The first missionary settlements of the bre- 
thren having been thus broken up, the greater 
part of those who had settled there proceeded 
to Philadelphia, while Mr. Spangenberg, with 
two others, returned to Germany. 

Those who set out for Philadelphia, having 
reached that place, were, soon after their arri- 
val, invited by Mr. Whitefield to settle on a 
tract of land between sixty and seventy miles 
south of the city, which had been purchased, 
and to which he had given the name of Naza- 
reth. Mr. Whitefield had already laid the 
foundation of a large storehouse, which it was 
understood the brethren were to erect for him. 
It was also designed to establish, on the same 
tract, a free school for negro children. Having 
thus unexpectedly found both a home and em- 
ployment, the brethren went to work with their 
usual diligence ; but, owing partly to the dis- 
satisfaction of the Indians, who were still set- 
tled on the tract, and who could not reconcile 
themselves to abandon such a favourite spot, 
which they did not consider as fairlv pur- 



16 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

chased ; and partly to the pecuniary embar- 
rassments of Mr. Whitefield, the brethren were 
obliged to leave the building unfinished, and 
withdraw from the land. 

But no sooner was one door closed than an» 
other was opened. The brethren having left 
Nazareth, a gentleman of Philadelphia offered 
to sell them a tract of land in the forks of the 
Delaware, ten miles nearer the city than Naza- 
reth, situated at the same time toward the coun- 
try inhabited by the Indians. They accepted 
the offer, and having purchased the land, they 
built houses upon it, and called the place Beth- 
lehem. 

At a little later period, in 1743, all the dis- 
putes with the Indians about the land having 
been previously settled, both by compromise 
and by a special treaty with the Five Nations, 
the brethren purchased the Nazareth settle- 
ment, including the unfinished building, which 
they then completed. 

Such was the origin of Bethlehem and Na- 
zareth, which were purchased and improved 
with the intention of supporting such mission- 
aries as should be sent from time to time among 
the Indians ; to afford a place of retirement for 
those worn down with fatigue ; and which 
were also designed to sen*e a* an asylum in 



SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 17 

case of danger or need. They were afterward 
found fully to answer these purposes. In 
tracing the early settlement of these two 
places, we have somewhat anticipated the 
order of our narrative. We now return to it. 

It has been stated that Mr. Spangenberg, 
with two others, returned to Germany. These 
missionaries, having rejoined their brethren 
at Hernhutii, drew such a picture of the de- 
plorable condition of the Indians as induced 
several of these devoted men to express their 
l'eadiness to go and preach the gospel to them, 
whatever might be the personal hazard of such 
an enterprise. 

From among those who offered to engage in 
this work, Christian Henry Rauch, a very 
amiable and pious man, (says Heckenwelder,) 
was chosen to commence a new mission among 
the Indians residing in the provinces of New- 
York and Connecticut. He accordingly set 
sail for the city of New-York, at which place 
he arrived on the 16th of July, 1740. 

Having disembarked, the missionary found 
himself an entire stranger in the city, knowing 
nothing even of the people to whom he was 
to preach the gospel, nor even where to find 
them. But, being assured of his call, he 
placed full* confidence in God, that he would 

2 



18 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

assist him, and lead him to those heathen to 
whom he was sent. 

A kind Providence befriended the mission- 
ary. As he wandered, solitary and unknown, 
through the streets of the city, whom should 
he meet but a brother missionary just arrived 
from the island of St. Thomas* Rauch was 
introduced by him to some pious friends in 
New- York, from whom he expected to obtain 
information respecting the people to whom he 
was going. These, however, instead of en- 
couraging him to proceed in his laudable under- 
taking, rather dissuaded him from it, represent- 
ing those Indians as a people utterly debauched 
in their morals, among whom no European 
could dwell in safety. Just at this time an 
embassy of Indians from the very place where 
he was directed to labour came to New- York 
on some business connected with the govern- 
ment. Rauch went immediately in search of 
them, and found that they were Mohegan In- 
dians, residing at a village called Shekomeko, 
on the borders of Connecticut, about twenty- 
five miles east of the North River. They 
appeared extremely ferocious in their manners, 

* The Moravians commenced their missions in the 
Danish West India Islands in the year 1732; and in the 
following year a mission wa« begun in Greenland. 



SCENES IS THE WILDERNESS. 19 

and were at that time much intoxicated. He 
waited patiently until they were sober, and 
then asked two of them, named Tschoop and 
Shabash, whether they would not like a teacher 
to settle among them, to instruct them in the 
way to heaven. To this they readily assented. 
Some days after he visited them again ; but 
they were so much intoxicated that they could 
neither speak nor stand. At his next interview 
with them they were sober, and they then made 
some arrangements for their journey to Sheko- 
meko, for which place the missionary set out in 
company with them. 

At Shekomeko Rauch was received by the 
Indians with much kindness ; but the very next 
day after his arrival, when he spoke to them on 
the subject of religion, they derided his instruc- 
tions, and laughed him to scorn. Not discou- 
raged by their rude behaviour, he was indefati- 
gable in visiting them daily in their huts. He 
also travelled among them from town to town ; 
though, as he had neither the means to keep a 
horse, nor money to hire a boat, he often suf- 
fered extremely from heat and fatigue in the 
woods. He was also often refused admittance 
into their houses. The first signs of encou- 
ragement which he saw were in the cases of 
Tschoop and Shabash, the two Indians to 



20 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS, 

whom he had first spoken in New- York, and 
who were among the most abandoned of their 
whole tribe. Tschoop was the greatest drunk- 
ard in the town, and had made himself a crip- 
ple by his debaucheries. The eyes of these 
two Indians were now seen to overflow Avith 
tears. They often lamented their former blind- 
ness, and their ignorance of the true God, who 
loved them so much that he sent his Son to 
save them. 

These favourable symptoms of a reformation in 
the Indians alarmed some white people who lived 
in the neighbourhood, and who were apprehen- 
sive lest such a change should prove detrimental 
to their own interest. These persons, by giving 
as a return for labour, or other services, liquor in 
the place of a fair pecuniary compensation, often 
defrauded the Indians of their just due. Should 
their credulous customers become temperate in 
their habits, this source of profit would at once 
be cut off. Stimulated, then, by the same mo- 
tive which led the silversmiths of Ephesus to 
excite a tumult against Paul, namely, that their 
craft was in danger, certain of these white 
settlers in the vicinity of Shekomeko used 
every means in their power to have Ranch 
sent away from the town. It is said that 
some of them carried their malignity to such 



SCENES IN' THE WILDERNESS. 21 

a pitch, that they offered liquor to any Indian 
that would kill the missionary. 

Among other base reports that were circu- 
lated against the missionary, it was said that 
he designed to seize the young people, carry 
them beyond the sea, and sell them for slaves. 
Absurd as this report really was, yet so tena- 
cious are these children of the forest of their 
personal liberty, and so often had they been 
deceived and injured by the treachery and 
baseness of the white people, that nothing 
could have been hinted or suggested more 
likely to excite their jealousy than this. Hur- 
ried along by their natural impetuosity, without 
allowing themselves time to investigate the 
source of the slander, or the motives to which 
it owed its birth, in the height of their irritation 
they threatened to shoot the missionary unless 
he left the place without further delay. Rauch, 
thus threatened and exposed to imminent peril, 
thought it prudent to leave the town for the 
present ; but he did not retire far from the 
scene of his labour ; the house of a neighbour- 
ing farmer becoming his temporary residence. 
During his abode here, regardless of the risk 
he ran, which was indeed great, he paid daily 
visits to the Indians at Shekomeko. The ex-> 
citement against the missionary did not expend 



22 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

itself merely in threats. Upon one occasion 
an Indian ran after him with his hatchet, and 
would certainly have killed him had he not ac- 
cidentally stumbled and fallen into the water. 
Even Tschoop, losing for a while his religious 
impressions, was so highly incensed that he 
endeavoured to shoot him ; and Shabash, though 
he threatened not his life, carefully avoided all 
intercourse. These various difficulties and dan- 
gers did not dismay Rauch, who continued his 
labours with unshaken courage and unremit- 
ting zeal, in the hope that they would at length 
be crowned with success. 

But if the jealousy of the Indians could be 
excited by the strong love they entertained for 
freedom, and their abhorrence of slavery, they 
were equally susceptible of the feeling or sen- 
timent of admiration upon the performance of 
actions which harmonized with their own views 
of what was praiseworthy and deserving of imi- 
tation. Thus it was in the present instance. 
The courage of Rauch, his patience and per- 
severance, happily united with so much meek- 
ness, gentleness, and humility, gradually abated 
their animosity, and removed their prejudices. 
He often spent half a day in their huts, ate and 
drank with them in a friendly manner, and 
when weary slept in the midst of them with 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 23 

the utmost composure. Nothing that the mis- 
sionary did made a deeper impression on the 
minds of the Indians, particularly on Tschoop, 
than his lying down to sleep unconcernedly in 
his hut, as if entirely fearless of danger, though 
he knew that he thus placed himself wholly in 
the hands of one who had already actually at- 
tempted his life. One day when the mission- 
ary was lying in his hut fast asleep, Tschoop 
was struck with the sight, and reasoned thus 
with himself : — " This cannot be a bad man : 
he fears no evil, not even from us who are so 
savage. Here he sleeps comfortably, and places 
his life in our hands." The missionary's calm- 
ness and confidence when in the midst of those 
whom he had been represented as desirous of 
injuring in the tenderest point, so indicative of 
innocence, led this Indian chief to reflect with 
greater deliberation and coolness upon the na- 
ture of the reports circulated by the white peo- 
ple ; which finally resulted in the conviction 
that they were not only without the slightest 
foundation, but had proceeded wholly from the 
wickedness and malice of those who had so 
diligently propagated them. Satisfied himself 
of the innocence of the missionary, Tschoop 
used his influence with his countrymen to 
remove the violent jealousy which they still 



24 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

entertained toward Rauch, and finally suc- 
ceeded in re-establishing the confidence which 
had previously existed. 

The friendship of the Indians having thus 
been regained, Rauch soon enjoyed the plea- 
sure of seeing the fruit of his labours. Several 
of them were much impressed with the love 
of Christ to sinners, as displayed in his suffer- 
ings and death. In Tschoop especially the 
change was very striking. The seriousness 
and deep feeling which he had first shown, 
though for a while apparently destroyed by the 
prejudices he had formed against his teacher, 
now returned with great force, and resulted in 
a complete transformation or change of the 
whole man. The drunkard had learned to be 
sober, and the man who was savage as a bear 
became mild and peaceful as a lamb. He 
afterward gave the brethren the following sim- 
ple yet interesting account of his conversion : — 
" I," said he, " have been a heathen, and have 
grown old among the heathen : therefore I 
know how the heathen think. Once a preacher 
came, and began to tell us that there was a 
God. We answered him, saying, ' Dost thou 
think us so ignorant as not to know that ? Go 
back to the place from whence thou earnest.' 
Then another preacher came to us, and began 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 25 

to say, ' You must not steal, nor lie, nor get 
drunk.' To him \vc answered, ' Thou fool, 
dost thou think that we do not know that ? 
Learn first thyself, and then teach thy own 
people to leave off these practices. For who 
steal, or lie, or get drunk, more than white 
men V Thus we dismissed him. After some 
time brother Rauch came into my hut, and sat 
down by me. He then spoke to me as fol- 
lows : — ' I am come to you in the name of the 
Lord of heaven and earth. He sends to let 
you know that he will make you happy, and 
deliver you from that misery in which you at 
present lie. For this purpose he became a 
man, gave his life a ransom, and shed his blood 
for us,' &c. When he had finished his dis- 
course he lay down upon a board, fatigued by 
his journey, and fell into a sound sleep. I then 
thought, 'What kind of a man is this ? There 
he sleeps. I might kill him, and throw him 
out into the wood, and who would regard it ? 
But this gives him no care or concern.' At 
the same time I could not forget his words. 
They constantly recurred to my mind. Even 
when I slept I dreamed of that blood which 
Christ shed for us. I found this to be some- 
thins different from what I had ever heard be- 
fore ; and I interpreted the missionary's words 



26 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

to the other Indians. Brethren, preach Christ, 
our Saviour, and his sufferings and death, if 
you would have your words to gain entrance 
among the heathen." 

After labouring in the village of Shekomeko 
and the neighbouring towns nearly two years, 
Rauch baptized Tschoop, Shabash, and two 
other Indians, on the 22d of February, 1742 ;* 
and before the close of the year twenty-six 
more were added to the number. In addition 
to Shekomeko, Pachpatgoch and Wachg-uat- 
nach, neighbouring towns, are particularly men- 
tioned as places where the gospel was preached 
with success. " It was truly delightful," says 
one, " to see the poor Indians coming from 
places five and twenty miles distant to hear 
the new preacher, who, as they expressed it, 
spoke of God who became man, and loved 
the Indians so much that he gave his life to 
save them from the devil and the service 
of sin." 

Rauch, who had laboured such a length of 
time without any assistants, was now joined 
by other missionaries from Hernhuth. The 
account of his success, and encouraging pros- 
pects of usefulness among the Indians, led to 
this welcome accession of labourers. The In- 
* Count Zinzendorf was present on this occasion. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 27 

dians soon discovered that the new teachers 
were men of the same stamp as Rauch, endowed 
with a like zeal, and equally disinterested. 
Such was the humility of these truly Christian 
missionaries, that they earned their livelihood 
chiefly by working for the Indians, though they 
received, as may easily be imagined, but little 
compensation for their labour. They also lived 
and dressed in the Indian manner ; so that in 
travelling through the country they were often 
taken for natives. Wherever they went and 
laboured, if they did not see immediate good 
effects, yet the kindness with which they uni- 
formly treated the savages made a strong im- 
pression on their minds, and prepared them for 
the reception of the gospel. 

In July, 1743, about three years after the 
first establishment of the mission, a new chapel 
was opened at Shekomeko, thirty feet long 
and twenty wide, and entirely covered with 
smooth bark. Many Indians visited the place ; 
and once, when above a hundred were present, 
the missionaries observed that wherever two 
or three were standing together, the love of 
God, and the sufferings of Christ, formed the 
subject of their conversation. Such indeed 
was the zeal of the converts, that they often 
spoke of Jesus to their countrymen till after 



28 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

midnight. " Mr. Weiser, a justice of the peace 
in Pennsylvania, writing to one of the mission- 
aries after a visit, says, ' The faith of the In- 
dians in our Lord Jesus Christ, their simplicity 
and unaffected deportment, their experience of 
the grace procured for us by the sufferings of 
Jesus, have impressed my mind with a firm 
belief that God is with you. I thought myself 
seated in a company of primitive Christians. 
They attended with great gravity and devo- 
tion ; their eyes were steadily fixed upon their 
teachers, as if they would eat their words. 
John (Tschoop) was the interpreter, and ac- 
quitted himself in the best manner. I esteem 
him as a man anointed with grace and spirit. 
The text of Scripture, ' Jesus Christ, the same 
yesterday, to-day, and for ever,' appeared to 
me as an eternal truth, when I beheld the vene- 
rable patriarchs of the American Indian church 
sitting around me as living witnesses of the 
power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his atoning 
sacrifice. Their prayers are had in remem- 
brance in the sight of God, and may God fight 
against their enemies. May the Almighty give 
to you and your assistants an open door to the 
hearts of all the heathen.' " # 

Mr. Spangenburg having been appointed 
* Missionary Records, North America, p. 157, 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 29 

bishop, in going from place to place to exa- 
mine the state of the work of God, visited She- 
komeko, and has given the following interesting 
description of the work of God at this place. 
He thus writes in his journal : — 

" The nearer we approached to Shekomeko 
the more veneration we found among all ranks 
of people for the great work of God in that 
place. The justice of the peace at Milsy ac- 
companied us, and declared that he would rather 
suffer his right hand to be cut off than treat the 
brethren conformably to the ' act' passed against 
them, for he was thoroughly convinced that the 
grace of God had, by their means, wrought mi- 
racles in that place. But when, upon our arri- 
val, we were witnesses of it, then, dear brethren, 
dead indeed must that man be who could refrain 
from shedding tears of joy and gratitude for the 
grace bestowed upon this people. It is impos- 
sible to express what is felt here ; God has 
done the work. As we rode into the town we 
met a man standing by the road-side with a 
;most remarkable countenance. We immedi- 
ately thought of John, as described to us, and 
ventured to address him by that name ; nor 
were we mistaken. He received us with great 
kindness, and brought us immediately to the 
missionaries. Then the venerable elder, Abra- 



30 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

ham, came to see us, saluted us, and though 
he was marked, after the Indian custom, with 
the figure of a snake on each cheek, yet the 
grace of our Saviour was so visible in his 
countenance, that we were struck with awe 
and amazement. The rest of the assistants 
came one after the other, and bade us welcome 
in the most affectionate manner. Indeed, there 
was not one of the congregation that did not 
express joy at our arrival. They appeared 
altogether as meek as lambs. While we were 
thus surrounded by our Indian brethren and sis- 
ters, I took up a Bible, and the following text 
occurred to me : ' Whosoever shall do the will 
of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my 
mother, and sister, and brother.' An Indian 
who had deviated from the right path wished 
to be readmitted ; but the brethren could not 
trust him as yet. When we afterward held a 
love-feast with all the baptized, seventy in 
number, he came likewise, stood at a distance, 
and looked upon his brethren with repentance 
and contrition in his countenance. We called 
him forward ; upon which he went and sat 
down in a corner. During the love-feast the 
presence of the Lord was powerfully felt. I 
spoke of the happiness granted to us by virtue 
of the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ appealing 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 31 

to their own experience, and they affirmed 
what I said to be true. Afterward Isaac ex- 
horted the brethren to be continually humble 
and low in their own eyes ; never to forget the 
sufferings and death of Jesus, and not only to 
think of it in Shekomeko, but in the woods, 
and when out hunting. We closed our love- 
feast with prayer and supplication, and with 
tears commended these precious souls, and our 
venerable brethren who have laboured among 
them, to God, our almighty Saviour."* 

While Shekomeko thus flourished and in- 
creased, a chapel was also built at Pachgat- 
goch;f a number of the natives were converted; 
missionaries were stationed here, and all the 
usual regulations introduced, and services at- 
tended to, which were customary in the mis- 
sion settlements of the Moravians. All was 
peaceful, and all were happy. 

It is pleasing to observe the spirit by which 
these converted Indians were actuated, show- 
ing as it does the genuine nature of Christian- 
ity, and especially exhibiting that unity of 
feeling, of evangelical sentiment, and meek de- 
portment, which distinguish all who cordially 

* Missionary Records, p. 158. 

t This place, says Heckewelder, was situated on the 
Kent River, in Connecticut. 



32 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

embrace it. At one time, during a meeting 
which they held " for adoration and praise," 
several of them declared that they thought a 
person never could have felt so happy in this 
world ; the pleasure they enjoyed was beyond 
description. One day Cornelius, one of the 
converts, who had formerly been a captain 
among the savages, and who had been elected 
to some office of trust in the church, after the 
administration of the Lord's supper, came and 
asked permission to retire from his post, al- 
leging that he felt such happiness during the 
sacrament that he resolved to give up all pub- 
lic business, and to devote his whole time to 
uninterrupted communion with his Saviour. 
He was easily persuaded indeed to retain his 
office until one should be found to succeed 
him ; but it was on the condition that he should 
no longer be styled captain ; " for," said he, 
" I am the least among my brethren." At an- 
other time a trader having endeavoured to per- 
suade Shabash that the brethren were not 
privileged teachers, he replied, " It may be 
so ; but I know what they have told me, 
and what God has wrought within me. Look 
at my poor countrymen there lying drunk before 
your door. Why do you not send privileged 
teachers to convert them ? Four years ago I 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 33 

also lived like a beast, and none of you troubled 
yourselves about me. But when trie brethren 
came they preached the cross of Christ, and I 
have experienced the power of his blood, so 
that sin has no longer dominion over me. Such 
are the teachers we want." 

The following circumstance will show the 
love of the missionaries to their converts, and 
its effect upon them : — " One of the Indians 
who had embraced Christianity having for- 
saken the congregation, Rauch set out to seek 
him, though he was forty miles off hunting in 
the woods. When the Indian saw him he was 
frightened, and seemed as if he had been struck 
by a thunderbolt. The missionary accosted 
him in a mild and friendly manner ; told him 
the design of his visit ; and added, that should 
he fly to the distance of two or three hundred 
miles, still they would search him out. The 
wanderer was amazed, and could make no re- 
ply : he only exclaimed, in broken sentences, 
' Does Buettner* remember me still ? Are you 
come merely to seek after me ? I am in a bad, 
in a wretched state.' Next morning he repeated 
these questions, adding more to the same pur- 
pose, and then began to weep most bitterly. 

* One of the missionaries, who appears to have had a 
particular attachment to him, and who died shortly after. 

3 



34 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

Nor could lie comprehend how the brethren 
should love such a miserable wretch, who had 
been a source of so much grief to them. When 
Rauch, therefore, assured him that they loved 
him still, he gave full vent to his tears, begged 
them to pray for him, and promised to return 
soon. He accordingly came back shortly after, 
accompanied by another of the Indians who 
had gone astray ; and both of them ever after 
remained steadfast to their Christian profes- 
sion, and adorned it by their life and conver- 
sation." 

This scene of prosperity at Shekomeko 
was at length interrupted. Such of the white 
people in the neighbourhood of this Indian 
town as were opposed to the missionaries and 
their work, failing in their attempts to sow dis- 
cord between the Indians and their teachers, 
and perceiving that the reformation at Sheko- 
meko placed the Indians more and more under 
the control of the brethren, and less and less 
under their own, and that in consequence of 
the increase of temperance they themselves 
were sustaining a serious loss, adopted a plan 
to render the missionaries generally obnoxious 
throughout the country. They first represented 
them as disaffected to the government ; as evil- 
minded, designing individuals. Thev were 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 35 

next accused of being actually in league with 
the French in Canada ; as having in their pos- 
session three thousand stand of arms, with 
which they intended to furnish such Indians 
as would join the French against the British, 
and make inroads into Pennsylvania. But 
what to us will appear much more surprising, 
and even ludicrous, were it not that it w r as one 
of the means, among others, which led to the 
breaking up of the mission at Shekomeko, — 
they were accused of being secretly papists, 
because from conscientious scruples they would 
not take an oath affirming that they " rejected 
transubstantiation, the worship of the Virgin 
Mary, purgatory," &c, which the laws of the 
country at the time required that every inhabit- 
ant should take. 

These reports spread far and wide, and were 
asserted with so much confidence that the 
whole country at last believed them, and were 
struck with terror, and inflamed with rage. 
Under this impression, it is said the inhabitants 
of Sharon, a town not far from Shekomeko, 
remained under arms for a whole week toge- 
ther, and some even forsook their plantations. 
The missionaries were arrested, and carried 
from one place to another for examination, not 
onlv bv magistrates, but bv ministers. Two 



36 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

of them were kept for some time at New-Mil- 
ford, while the others were ordered to Pough- 
keepsie, and treated with but little regard either 
to justice or humanity. They were brought 
before the governor of Connecticut; also before 
the governor and council of New-York ; and 
though always honourably acquitted of the 
charges laid against them by every court, and 
also by e\ r ery magistrate* before whom they 
were arraigned, yet the assembly of New- 
York, in October of 1745, passed an act " po- 
sitively prohibiting the brethren from instruct- 
ing the Indians." But though absolutely pro- 
hibited, by an act which they considered it 
their duty to obey, from meeting their Indian 
congregations for divine service, and not al- 
lowed even to remain with them, yet such was 
the state of the health of their senior mission- 
ary, Gottlieb Buettner, that they were obliged 
to delay their departure some time longer. 
This missionary, whose constitution was natu- 

* One of these, a justice of the peace at Filkentown, 
after acquitting the missionaries, said, " that he must ac- 
knowledge the mission in Shekomeko to be a work of 
God, because by the labour of the brethren the most sa- 
vage heathen had been so evidently changed, that he, and 
many other Christians, were put to shame by their godly 
walk and conversation." 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 37 

rally delicate, unable to endure the hardships 
and troubles he had been compelled to undergo, 
especially those to which the missionaries had 
been exposed by the malice and violent oppo- 
sition of their enemies, sunk under the load, 
dying on the 23d of February, 1745, aged 
twenty-nine years. His remains were interred 
in the burying ground at Shekomeko, the In- 
dian converts taking the burial duties and cere- 
mony upon themselves, and watering his grave 
with their tears.* 

The death of Buettner was the signal for the 
departure of the missionaries from Shekomeko. 
Before leaving their Indian congregation, which 
within the last two years had received an ad- 
dition of sixty-three members, arrangements 
were made for the continuance of their usual 
religious meetings. The parting between these 
devoted men and their converts, to whom they 
had been the means of doing so much real good, 
was extremely painful. The missionaries could 

* " Of this worthy missionary," says Heckewelder, 
" it can truly be said that while he lived, he lived unto 
the Lord. When near his end, the native assistants 
being assembled at his bedside, he exhorted them, with 
his dying lips, to abide faithful unto the Lord to the end : 
then desiring them to sing some verses, he expired while 
thev were singing." 



38 SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 

not but experience the most saddening emotions 
at the separation, especially leaving, as they did, 
their flock as sheep without a shepherd, ex- 
posed to temptation, unsustained by their coun- 
sel and encouraging; exhortations. The grief 
they felt at parting with their beloved congre- 
gation is represented to have been beyond de- 
scription ; but they resolved to wait with pa- 
tience till God should manifest their innocence, 
and dispel the storm. 

Having left Shekomeko, the brethren retired 
to Bethlehem ; from whence they occasionally 
visited their former scene of labour, not, says 
Heckewelder, to preach themselves to the In- 
dians, but to attend the meetings of the latter, 
which they did with great satisfaction. 

In concluding this account of the origin, 
progress, and termination of the Moravian mis- 
sion at Shekomeko, we may add, that Pach- 
gatgoch and Wachguatnoch, where also a con- 
gregation had been raised, were continued for 
a number of years, and supplied with mission- 
aries from Bethlehem. The ultimate fate of 
the Indian congregation at Shekomeko will be 
mentioned in our next chapter. Here we con- 
clude the second attempt of the brethren to 
preach the gospel among the Indians of our 
country, in both instances having to recount 



SCENES IN' THE WILDERNESS. 39 

the failure of the enterprise not for want of ac- 
cess both to the hearts and confidence of the 
Indians, but from causes wholly extraneous 
and accidental. Many a rich sheaf, however, 
was gathered and laid up in the garner, though 
the mission stations, after the expenditure of 
much labour and money, were obliged to be 
relinquished. Futurity alone will fully unfold 
the good which was accomplished. 



CHAPTER II. 

I hear the sound of prayer and praise 
From the Indian's cot ascending ; 

His thankful heart, in joyous lays, 
To his Saviour gladly rend'ring. 

Although the teachers and their converts 
were now separated from each other, yet, as 
was mentioned in the close of the last chapter, 
a mutual intercourse was still kept up between 
them ; the attachment of the missionaries, and 
their solicitude for the spiritual welfare of their 
flock, rendering them regardless of the toil of 
travelling from one settlement to another, or of 
the risk they ran from the malice of their ene- 
mies. This occasional supervision the mis- 



40 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

sionaries were well aware was not sufficient 
to meet the wants of their congregation, and 
they, therefore, proposed to the Indians to 
remove from the province of New-York, and 
settle upon some eligible spot in Pennsylvania. 
To facilitate this plan, and to remove every 
obstacle which might prevent its accomplish- 
ment, the brethren sent a deputation to the Iri- 
quois, or Six Nations, who, upon pretence of 
having conquered the Delawares, claimed all 
the land in this part of the country, and on this 
ground assumed the power of saying who 
should and who should not be permitted to 
dwell on it. The deputation sent out by the 
brethren for this purpose proceeded to Onon- 
daga, and presenting their request to the great 
council, it was readily granted. Upon this the 
Indians at Shekomeko were invited to remove 
to Pennsylvania ; but, contrary to the expecta- 
tion of all, they at first refused to accede to the 
proposal. They gave what they considered 
good reasons for not accepting the friendly pro- 
position of their teachers. It was not long, 
however, before they were obliged to accept 
the offer, and follow the advice of the brethren ; 
the white people pretending that the ground on 
which Shekomeko was built did not belong to 
the Indians. To carry out more effectually the 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 41 

nefarious plan of seizing the Indians' land, 
they reA'ived the old rumour, that the Indians 
of Shekomeko, like their teachers, were dis- 
posed to unite with the French, who, it was 
said, with a body of a thousand men were on 
their march to the province to ravage it with 
fire and sword. This rumour excited such 
rage and terror among the English, particularly 
at Rhinebeck, that the inhabitants of that town 
demanded a warrant from a magistrate to go 
and kill all the Indians at Shekomeko. The 
warrant indeed was not granted ; but yet the 
poor, unoffending Indians were at length op- 
pressed to such a degree, that though they 
were strongly attached to their own village, 
they resolved to leave it, and to seek an asy- 
lum with their teachers in Pennsylvania. Ac- 
cordingly, the first emigration, consisting of ten 
families, in all forty-four persons, took place in 
April, 1746. These arriving at Bethlehem, 
were received with tenderness and compas- 
sion ; and having built cottages in the vicinity 
of the brethren's settlements, their regular reli- 
gious services were recommenced. They also 
again partook of the holy sacrament, which 
had not been administered to them for a long 
time. This small settlement in the vicinity of 
Bethlehem and Nazareth they called " Fneden- 



42 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

shutten," or " tents of peace." It was soon so 
much increased by emigration from the former 
stations, as to render it doubtful whether it 
could sustain itself so near the other settle- 
ments. To remedy any inconveniences, there- 
fore, which might grow out of its present loca- 
tion, the brethren judged it advisable to purchase 
a new tract of land, and to form a new town at 
a greater distance from Bethlehem. The spot 
they selected was a tract of land about thirty 
miles from Bethlehem, situated beyond the 
Blue Mountains, at the junction of the Ma- 
hony* Creek with the Lehigh, consisting of 
two hundred acres. Here the Christian In- 
dians settled, built a regular town and chapel, 
and called the place " Gnadenhutten," or " tents 
of grace." 

The village of Gnadenhutten was commenced 
some time in the year 1746. This settlement 
increased rapidly, not only by those Indian 
converts who came from Friedenshutten, but 
also by the arrival of such as had up to this 
time still remained at Shekomeko, and also 
some from Pachpatgoch. Numerous new con- 
verts also were added from anion s, the Dela- 
wares, the natives of this part of the country. 

* " Mahony" signifies a Deer's Lick ; a place where 
salt or brackish water issues out of the earth. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 43 

The gospel," says Heckewelder, " which was 
daily preached there, became the blessed means 
of engaging the attention of the Delawares, so 
that many of these were converted, and added 
to Christ's flock." 

As the land on which Gnadenhutten w r as built 
was covered w T ith trees and shrubs, no little 
labour and expense were incurred in clearing it 
before they could proceed to build their huts 
and plant the ground. In these labours the 
brethren assisted the Indians, and had their 
meals in common with them. But as the con- 
verts were unacquainted with husbandry, and 
unable to bear much fatigue, the heaviest part 
of the work fell upon their teachers, who cheer- 
fully endured it, considering it as done in the 
service of Christ. 

The Indians who took up their abode at 
Gnadenhutten were delighted with the place. 
It became indeed, in a short time, a very regu- 
lar, pleasant town. The church stood in the 
valley : on one side were the Indian houses, 
in the form of a crescent, upon a rising ground ; 
on the other, the house of the missionaries and 
the burying ground. The brethren tilled their 
own land, and every Indian family their own 
plantation ; and the diligence with which they 
cheerfully planted the fields allotted to each 



44 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

of their families, was a striking and interesting 
proof of the influence of religion upon them. 

The number of the Indians constantly in- 
creasing, and the tract of two hundred acres 
first purchased not being sufficient to accom- 
modate them, the brethren, to remedy this 
inconvenience, purchased a spot of land on the 
opposite side of the river, about half a mile 
from Gnadenhutten, giving it the Indian name 
of the creek Mahony, on which it was situated. 
Here a farm was laid out, and a saw-mill was 
built. A blacksmith, and several other mechan- 
ics, along with a part of the Indian congrega- 
tion, removed thither ; and the daily meetings 
customary in all the brethren's congregations 
were introduced, and regularly attended to. 
The saw-mill erected on this settlement en- 
abled many of them to earn a little money 
by cutting timber, and conveying it to Bethle- 
hem in floats, down the river Lehigh, or Lecha. 
The chief support of the two settlements, how- 
ever, was hunting ; from fifteen to twenty deer 
or bears being frequently shot in a day. When 
provisions were scarce, they procured wild 
honey, chestnuts, and bilberries in the woods. 
Besides these means of support, they received 
occasionally supplies of provisions from Beth- 
lehem. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 45 

The new missionary station, so well arranged 
and improved — with its chapel, its streets, and 
its houses ; with the tilled and productive fields 
around it, together with the peace and harmony 
that prevailed among the Christian Indians, at- 
tracted no ordinary degree of curiosity. The 
Indians who visited it from a distance said it 
was a place " which delighted them much." 
Among its numerous visiters was David Brain- 
erd, missionary to the Indians in New-Jersey, 
who was accompanied by some of his con- 
verts ; and the visit, it is said, was " much to 
his satisfaction." Companies of Indians, be- 
longing to various tribes, particularly Dela- 
wares and Shawanese, were the most frequent 
guests of the brethren ; who not only received 
them with kindness, but entertained them free 
of expense, hoping that some of them might 
by this means be brought to Christ. As in 
some instances their Indian guests were dis- 
orderly and troublesome in their conduct, cer- 
tain regulations were introduced, which, avoid- 
ing too great severity on the one hand, were 
yet, on the other, sufficiently strict to show 
that no impropriety of behaviour would be al- 
lowed; — nothing that would prove injurious 
to the Christian Indians, particularly to the 
young. 



46 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

For the purpose chiefly of accommodating 
the concourse of visiters which flowed into the 
settlement, a house was built which was called 
the Stranger's Inn. " How glad," says one 
writer, " was the savage, the hunter, or the 
wayfarer perhaps from some distant tribe, when 
he saw the spire, the streets, and the cara- 
vansary* of Gnadenhutten, and was guided, 
weary and hungry, to the gate, where neat and 
clean chambers, a kind greeting, and a com- 
fortable repast awaited him !" 

Among the various companies of Indians 
that from time to time visited Gnadenhutten, 
was a large embassy sent by the Nautikoks 
and Shawanese, for the purpose of establishing 
a covenant between these tribes and the bre- 
thren. The embassy was sent in return for a 
visit paid by two missionaries, Zeisberger and 
Seidel, to Shomokin and Wayomick. The de- 
puties, with their attendants, w r ere in all one 
hundred and seven persons. A messenger was 
sent ten miles forward, with the words, " We 
are now coming unto you. Gnadenhutten is a 
place which delights us. The heat was great : 
we subsisted on nothing but bilberries : we rest 
with you at present." They appeared, a few 

* A name given in eastern countries to public inns, or 
places built for the accommodation of travellers. 



■SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 47 

hours after, slowly moving toward the place, in 
Indian rile ; the leader singing a song. The 
" Stranger's Inn" was filled to overflowing ; an 
ample supper was prepared ; after which the 
whole assembly met upon a rising ground ; a 
large blue cloth was spread in the middle, and 
mats placed on it. The Nautikoks and Shawa- 
nese gathered around their chiefs, and the 
inhabitants around the Moravians ; the women 
and children forming a circle beyond the whole 
assembly, at a short distance. What a beauti- 
ful picture ! — the evening in June ; the shadow 
of the forests gathering darker around ; the 
sun going down in glory behind the barren 
ridge of the Blue Mountains ! Many speeches 
were made by the Indians, and answers given 
in the same style by Spangenberg. At length 
the treaty was ratified, and the Indian embassy 
passed some days in the place. 

The religious services of the settlement 
were attended to with the utmost regularity. 
The congregation met twice a day, — early in 
the morning, and in the evening after their 
work, — to sing and pray ; and sometimes to 
hear a discourse upon the text of Scripture 
appointed for the day. As an additional exer- 
cise, portions of the Scriptures, translated into 
the Mohican language, were also read and 



48 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

explained. The catechumens* were instruct- 
ed ; the holy communion was administered to 
the communicants every month. The Indians 
called the communion day the " great day ;" 
and such indeed it was, being attended with 
the most distinguished blessing, and very pow- 
erfully strengthening their faith and hope. Ac- 
cording to the custom of the Moravian brethren, 
who revived these ancient religious festivals, 
love-feasts were occasionally held. They were 
commenced with singing and prayer, and after- 
ward the members of the church spoke of their 
consolation and progress in religion. 

Strict and faithful discipline was observed in 
Gnadenhutten. For this purpose various rules 
were adopted, which were strictly adhered to. 
Among others, " that no begging was to be 
suffered ; no debts were to be contracted either 
with heathen or white people ; each was to 
earn his own bread diligently ; the infirm and 
aged were also required to be carefully attended 
to, and their wants relieved." These are cited 
rather as showing the nature of their prudential 
regulations, than as directly referring to that 
Scriptural discipline which was enforced where 

* Persons receiving instruction in the rudiments of 
Christianity previous to being received as members of the 
church. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 49 

there was an absolute breach of Christian obli- 
gation and conduct. 

The work being great, and the spiritual 
wants of the people numerous and various, 
and the brethren themselves not beingr able to 
attend to all the demands of their people, they 
appointed Indian assistants among the men, to 
whose care the daily meetings were sometimes 
committed. These assistants, who were chosen 
for their superior piety and intelligence, were 
valuable auxiliaries, aiding both by public ad- 
dresses and private visitation and counsel to 
the families. 

The character of one of these assistants is 
thus described : — " As [before his conversion] 
his vices were the more seductive, on account 
of his natural wit and humour, so, as a Chris- 
tian, he became a most powerful and persuasive 
witness among his nation. Few of his coun- 
trymen could vie with him in point of Indian 
oratory ; his discourses were full of animation : 
whether at home, or on a journey, he could not 
forbear speaking of the salvation purchased 
for us. Nor was he less respected as a chief 
among the Indians ; no affairs of state being 
transacted without his advice and consent." 
Another, by the name of Nicodemus, an elder 
of the congregation, is thus spoken of: — "As 

4 



50 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

his manner of speaking was very figurative, his 
public testimony and conversation were the 
more instructive to his countrymen : ' I crossed 
the Lehigh,'* he said, ' to-day in a boat ; being 
driven into the rapid current, and nearly over- 
set ; but a large tree, whose branches drooped 
into the water, stayed my course, and saved 
me. So are we irresistibly hurried away by 
sin ; but as soon as our mighty One stretches 
forth his hand, we receive power to withstand 
the rapid stream of this world.' In his last 
illness, while they stood around him, he ob- 
served, ' I am weary, and wish to rest, for I 
have finished my work : my body will sleep in 
our burying ground, but it will rise most glo- 
rious : corruption and death are near, but only 
for a time. Even as the forest fades before 
the winter's frost, but lifts its head again in 
glory, so shall I rise. But if I had no hope, 
if I had continued the slave of sin, it would be 
with me as when the flame devours the forest, — 
it perishes for ever. The spring and the sum- 
mer come, yet there is nothing but blackness 
and ashes. The oak, and the pine, and the 
cedar lie withering beside the little trees and 
the weeds : they are all alike then.' " 

The wives of the missionaries, we may also 
* Or " Looha," as it sopiiis thon to have beon calU\l. 



si'LM.b i.\ THE WILDERNESS. 51 

add, as well as the more intelligent and pious 
Indian sisters, were also employed as assist- 
ants. One spirit indeed seemed to animate 
this Christian community ; and all acting thus 
harmoniously, and with well-tempered zeal, 
the blessing of God rested eminently upon 
Gnadenhutten. So prosperous was the work 
of religion in this village, that in the course of 
three years the Indian congregation had in- 
creased to about five hundred persons. So 
great was the increase, that the church erected 
in 1746 was found too small to hold them, and 
the foundation of a new one was laid in Sep- 
tember, 1749. About the same time increased 
attention was paid to the proper regulation and 
instruction of the children ; and a special ar- 
rangement entered into for the maintenance of 
poor widows and orphans ; who, it was pro- 
vided, should be placed in different families, 
and furnished with the necessaries of life in 
the same manner as relatives. 

Thus arose the " Tents of Peace" in the 
midst of the wild, uncultivated wilderness, in- 
habited by savages, whose natural ferocity was 
tamed by the gospel ; their, as is often thought, 
unconquerable aversion to civilized life re- 
moved ; their love of war and blood conquered ; 
and themselves dwelling happily together, sub- 



52 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

mitting cheerfully to all the necessary restric- 
tions of Christianity, and finding their chief joy 
in faith in Christ, and love to him, his cause, 
and his people. And how and by whom was 
this congregation of the savages of our forest 
raised up 1 Chiefly, as Tschoop, the Indian 
chieftain, said, by preaching Christ and him 
crucified ; while the instruments employed were 
chiefly poor, plain men, mostly mechanics, ac- 
customed to support themselves by the labour 
of their own hands, and impelled wholly by the 
love of Christ to the extraordinary, and suc- 
cessful as extraordinary, efforts which they 
made for the propagation of the gospel. They 
went forth in obedience to the divine mandate, 
" Go ye into all the world, and preach the gos- 
pel to every creature ;" and as we survey the 
surprising result of their " work of faith and 
labour of love," we may well exclaim, in the 
language of the prophet, " Not by might, nor 
by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of 
hosts." 

But already a dark cloud was gathering in the 
distant horizon, which, increasing as it rose, was 
soon to burst upon and desolate all this fair scene 
of Christian love and labour. The untimely fate 
which befell Gnadenhutten we shall detail in our 
next chapter. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 53 



CHAPTER III. 

Alas for thcc ! in one short night 

Thy homes shall ruins be ; 
And smouldring piles the morrow's light 

Shall in their places see ! 

The brethren did not confine their labours 
to Gnadenhutten and its vicinity ; but made 
frequent journeys among the Indians in other 
parts of the country. The Iroquois, or the Six 
Nations, as they are commonly called, a large 
and powerful tribe, were the principal objects 
of their benevolent exertions. They also visited 
Shomokin, and various other places on the river 
Susquehannah. At this latter place they at- 
tempted to establish a settlement. They also 
revisited often the scene of their early labours ; 
for though in Shekomeko there was scarcely a 
trace left of the mission, except the burying 
ground, yet at Pachgatgoch and Watquatnoch 
there were still congregations, with missiona- 
ries settled over them, and a good degree of 
religious prosperity. At Mencolagomekah, a 
town about one day's journey from Bethlehem, 
was another regular establishment of Christian 
Indians, which was likewise often included in 
their journeyings from one place to another ; 



54 SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 

so various and so extended were the labours 
of those excellent men. 

In these journeys through the wildernesses 
they suffered often from hunger, as well as 
from heat and cold ; and still more, as they 
went on foot, and could carry but little bag- 
gage ; so that when thoroughly wet, they suf- 
fered from having no change of linen, or other 
clothes. Such labours and exposure bore hard 
on feeble constitutions, and often caused sick- 
ness, sometimes ending in death. Among those 
who fell at an early period in the discharge of 
such duties, the name of the Rev. Bishop Cam- 
merhof is mentioned ; a man of extraordinary 
talents and great piety, and who had been ap- 
pointed by the directors of the society in Eu- 
rope to take the general superintendence of the 
internal concerns of the various mission stations 
in this country. Animated by the prospect of 
the conversion of the heathen, he devoted much 
of his time to visiting the scattered Indian vil- 
lages on the Susquehannah and elsewhere, 
preaching the gospel with great freedom wher- 
ever he came. During the four years he 
resided in this country he baptized eighty-nine 
Indians. His death was a great loss to the 
society generally. 

Having thus given a brief view of the labours 



SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 55 

of the brethren to carry the gospel beyond their 
own pleasant and flourishing village, we return 
to the course of events more immediately con- 
nected with Gnadenhutten. From the first 
settlement of this place, in 1746, to the year 
1754, the Indian congregation had enjoyed 
peace, and flourished beyond the most san- 
guine expectations of the brethren : but in the 
course of the year 1754 the state of things be- 
gan to assume a threatening and troublesome 
aspect. It will be necessary briefly to advert 
to the general condition of the country, in order 
to show how Gnadenhutten became the object 
of hostility, and was finally destroyed in the 
calamities of those times. 

The French, it is well known, had, about 
this time, become exceedingly active in their 
efforts to gain a permanent and extensive terri- 
tory in North America. They had already, by 
an artful and well-connected train of opera- 
tions, established settlements along the whole 
length of the river St. Lawrence, from its 
mouth to Lake Ontario : while along the shores 
of this lake they had established not only 
trading-houses, but several forts ; one of which, 
Fort Frontenac, was taken by the British in 
1758. Sweeping from the south to the north, 
they had also planted New-Orleans, near the 



56 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

mouth of the Mississippi ; and, " ascending 
the stream, laid claim to the beautiful and fer- 
tile valley through which it flows." They had 
also built trading-houses along the Ohio ; and 
were now, in pursuance of their original scheme, 
contemplating the establishment of a chain of 
forts from the Ohio to Lake Ontario ; thus 
forming a continuous belt of forts, trading- 
houses, and settlements, from the mouth of the 
St. Lawrence to the mouth of the Mississippi ; 
acquiring, by this means, one of the richest 
portions of soil in the world. 

As may easily be supposed, the ever-wake- 
ful jealousy of the British was aroused by the 
increasing encroachments of the French ; and 
they soon determined to take the necessary 
measures to prevent the completion of a plan, 
now become so plain, and, at the same time, 
so pregnant with danger, not only to their pre- 
sent, but their future power and possessions in 
North America. The French of course resisted 
the claims which the British set up for at least 
portions of that country which they had them- 
selves in part occupied, and thus arose what is 
usually termed " the old French war ;" a war 
which, while it fell with more or less severity 
on all the thirteen British colonies, as also on 
the French possessions, was, at the same time, 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 57 

attended with unusually distressing effects upon 
the Christian Indians, their teachers, and their 
peaceful settlements in the wilderness. 

Previously to any open rupture between the 
French and English, attempts were made to 
adjust matters peaceably by negotiation ; while 
during the pending of the negotiations both 
parties assiduously courted the friendship and 
aid of the various tribes of Indians in case of 
war between the two nations. Among other 
tribes which the French engaged to take part 
with them in the expected approaching contest, 
was the Iroquois, or Six Nations, whose influ- 
ence, as we have seen, was very great in the 
region of country where Gnadenhutten was 
built. The first slight intimation of danger 
which the brethren had was an embassy of In- 
dians, consisting of Shawanese and Nanticoks, 
who came to the settlement, and, without assign- 
ing any particular reason, invited all the Chris- 
tian Indians to leave their present abode, and 
settle at Wyoming. The embassy by which so 
strange a proposal was thus unexpectedly made, 
consisted in all of twenty-two persons, attended 
by three Iroquois Indians. The prime movers 
in this scheme were the Iroquois, who merely 
employed the Shawanese and the Nanticoks as 
their agents. This proposition was first made 



58 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

as early as the year 1753. The brethren paid 
but little attention to it, and went on as usual 
with their work ; w r hile the Indians also showed 
no desire to leave their settlement. This irri- 
tated the Iroquois, who now declared that the 
proposal to remove was their own, and if the 
Christian Indians did not obey, " they would 
come themselves, and run a red hot poker into 
their ears :" that is, in plain language, they 
would compel them to obey, and move from 
Gnadenhutten to Wyoming. This harsh lan- 
guage struck some with fear, so that, in the 
end, upward of eighty, though with much re- 
luctance and sorrow, came to the conclusion 
to settle at Wayomick, or Wyoming, a town 
on the Susquehannah belonging to the Shawa- 
nese.* 

The departure of so many of their converts 
from Gnadenhutten caused the brethren much 
grief, though this, in some measure, was alle- 
viated by the unexpected arrival of fifty Chris- 
tian Indians from Meniolagomeka, an Indian 
town, as we have stated, about fifteen miles 
from Bethlehem, which they had been ordered 
to leave by the proprietor of that place. Thus 

* To these Indians a missionary was occasionally sent ; 
not, however, until the Iroquois had, upon application to 
their chiefs, granted the brethren this privilege. 



SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 59 

driven from their settlement, these Indians bent 
their steps to Gnadenhutten, concluding to make 
that their home. The loss which Gnadenhut- 
ten had just sustained was thus partly made 
up — the congregation was enlivened, and the 
native assistants animated in the discharge of 
their duties. For a little longer season the 
congregation now enjoyed rest, and, walking 
in the fear of the Lord, and the comforts of the 
Holy Ghost, were edified. 

Amid apparent peace and security danger 
was at their threshold. War was on the eve 
of breaking out between the English and 
French ; and, strange as it may seem, though 
the brethren were constantly travelling in al- 
most every direction through the Indian coun- 
try, they had not discovered the hostile dispo- 
sition of the surrounding Indian tribes to the 
English, so profoundly was the secret kept. 
The Iroquois at this time were the most active 
and influential auxiliaries of the French, hav- 
ing already summoned not only the tribes in 
their own vicinity, but even the western and 
lake Indians, to join with them in the conflict ; 
at the same time threatening such as were 
averse to the war with destruction if they did 
not obey the summons. Thus, though sur- 
rounded bv those tribes who were soon to 



60 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

engage in the deadly conflict, and exposed 
from their situation to feel the first blow which 
might be given in the coming strife, the bre- 
thren were entirely insensible of their danger. 
They slept, as usual, secure at night, and 
laboured undisturbed at their vocation. 

Their security was at length fearfully inter- 
rupted. The war broke out about the year 
1755. The first outrage was committed near 
Shomokin, where three of the missionaries 
resided ; but through the mercy of God they 
were all preserved, though exposed to con- 
tinual danger. This was the first note of alarm 
to the missionaries, though Gnadenhutten had 
already in an Indian council been marked out 
for destruction, its inhabitants being considered 
as friends to the British government. This 
was the avoioed motive of attack upon this 
place ; but there was another, arising from the 
hatred entertained toward the brethren by many 
of the Indians, and who could not bear that 
they should thus settle in the country. Still, 
not a surmise of their danger, or of the intended 
attack, had reached Gnadenhutten. 

There was dwelling at this time, still further 
in the interior of the country, at Onondaga, that 
eminent missionary, David Zeisberger, who 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 61 

was greatly loved by the Six Nations, and who 
had been adopted by them as one of them- 
selves, having received, as a title of his adop- 
tion, a new Indian name, " Anausseracheri," 
signifying " on the pumpion." He having ob- 
tained, by some means or other, some intima- 
tion of the intended attack upon Gnadenhutten, 
instantly set out for that place, but came too 
late to save it. 

The fatal attack was made on the small set- 
tlement on Mahony Creek, situated, as has 
been stated, about half a mile from the town 
properly called Gnadenhutten, on the opposite 
side of the river ; though the Avhole in fact 
formed but one settlement. On the evening 
of the 25th of November, 1755, the lonely set- 
tlers were at peace in their dwellings. Some 
had just sat down to supper. A sudden howl- 
ing of the dogs was heard. This sound, so 
unusual at such an hour, somewhat alarming 
them, one of the missionaries, Gottlieb Sense- 
man, went out at the back door to see what 
was the matter. By this means he was saved ; 
for the Indians perceiving, by the howling of 
the dogs, that they would be immediately dis- 
covered, fired a gun, and Senseman at once 
discovering the danger, and finding that there 



62 SCENES tN THE WILDERNESS. 

was no time to return, was fortunate enough 
to escape, undiscovered by the Indians, be- 
yond the immediate vicinity of the settlement. 

It was just at this eventful crisis, about twi- 
light, that Zeisberger reached the bank of the 
river opposite the Mahony settlement, now en- 
vironed and assaulted by the Indians. The 
intrepid man dashed through the river on his 
horse, and had scarcely reached the opposite 
shore when a discharge of musketry announced 
that the attack had indeed commenced in ear- 
nest, and that the work of butchery and death 
was going on among his brethren. He hast- 
ened in anguish, though sensible that his single 
arm could avail but little. The discharges 
increased, and fearful cries were mingled 
among them. The light was so dim that he 
could see no objects in the distance, save the 
flashes which were evidently around the de- 
voted settlement. Instead of flying himself 
for shelter, he remained in the midst of the 
fatal scene, and aided the fugitives. 

While such was the scene without, as it 
presented itself to the aching sight of Zeis- 
berger, the scene was far more frightful in the 
mission house itself. Scarcely had Senseman 
gone out by the back door to see w r hat occa- 
sioned the howling of the dogs, than, as we 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 63 

have seen, the report of a gun followed. Still 
more alarmed at this, and through ignorance 
of the mode of Indian warfare, acting with 
little caution, several of the brethren, with 
some of the females of the mission, rose has- 
tily up, ran to the front door, and opened it. 
The moment the door was opened, a number 
of Indians w r ere seen with their pieces pointed 
directly at it, who instantly fired, killing Martin 
Nitschman on the spot, and wounding several 
others, among whom was the wife of Nitsch- 
man. Utterly defenceless as were the mis- 
sionaries, there was no time for hesitation, and 
parley with the infuriated foe was in vain 
Urged then by the imminency of the danger, 
all fled, the wounded w 7 ith the rest, with the 
utmost precipitation up the stairs to the garret, 
the door of which they barricaded in an as- 
tonishingly brief space of time, and with such 
address, that it formed for a time a sure de- 
fence. In the meanwhile the savages rushed 
into the house, crossing the mangled body of 
the missionary, and hastening to assuage their 
thirst for blood by the death of those who had 
fled into the garret. Baffled in the first attempt 
to burst open the door, and impatient of delay, 
they set the house on fire. As the flames be- 
gan to kindle, a boy by the name of Sturgears 



64 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

got on the roof, and, leaping from thence down 
to the ground, made his escape. Encouraged 
by the success of the boy, one of the sisters, 
the wife of the missionary Partsch, watching a 
favourable opportunity, next got upon the roof, 
and succeeding in reaching the ground unhurt, 
fled, unobserved by the enemy, and hid herself 
behind a tree upon a hill near the house. The 
next who attempted the dangerous flight was 
Christian Fabricius, the chief of the mission, 
and a particular friend of Zeisberger's ; but 
the savages, whose attention for a while seems 
to have been drawn from the house, supposing, 
doubtless, that as they had set fire to the build- 
ing, escape was impossible, discovered Fra- 
bricius ere he had effected his escape. They 
at once fired, wounding him with two balls. 
He was seized alive, quickly despatched with 
their hatchets, and his scalp cut off. The In- 
dians being now on the alert, further escape was 
prevented, and the rest of the family who fled 
to the garret were burned to death. Among the 
rest was the wife of Senseman. Though sur- 
rounded by the flames, she was seen standing 
with folded hands, and was heard to say, " 'Tis 
all well, dear Saviour !" Her husband had the 
inexpressible grief to behold his wife perish in 
this miserable manner. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 65 

Besides burning the mission house, the sa- 
vages set fire to the barns and stables, and thus 
destroyed all the corn, hay, and cattle. They 
then divided the spoil, soaked some bread in 
milk, and, after making a hearty meal, departed 
from the place. The whole number who per- 
ished in this terrible catastrophe was eleven. 
Five only made their escape. Sated with the 
slaughter for the present, and loaded with 
spoil, the hostile Indians did not, at this time, 
attack Gnadenhutten proper. At that place on 
the evening of the attack there were but few of 
the Christian Indians, the greater part of them, 
as it was the season for it, being absent on a 
hunting expedition. Such of them as were 
there, when they saw from the distance the 
flames, and learned the cause, offered to cross 
the river to the assistance of their brethren, 
but the plan being disapproved, we suppose on 
the false principle of non-resistance to all at- 
tacks and injuries, the Indians, as it appears to 
us; with a degree of timidity and precipitation, 
hardly agreeing with the national character for 
intrepidity and self-possession, all fled into the 
neiahbourmor woods, so that the town was 
cleared of its inhabitants. 

Thus fell the first blow upon a part of this 
flourishing Christian settlement ; but the main 

T) 



66 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

village, Gnadenhutten, still stood, as also the 
saw mill at Mahony, which was not destroyed 
with the rest of the buildings. We may, how- 
ever, as well conclude the account of the fate 
of the -whole, by saying, that after a few days 
the savages returned, set fire to Gnadenhut- 
ten, tore down the mill, thus removing the 
last vestige which remained of Mahony, and 
completely laid waste the plantations on both 
sides of the river. 

During the memorable night of the attack, 
the brethren at Bethlehem, though this place 
was nearly thirty miles distant, and with the 
ridge of the Blue Mountains between, plainly 
saw the flames of the dismal conflagration. 
The fatal cause, it is likely, was too truly con- 
jectured. At three o'clock of the following 
morning, Zeisberger, having remained in the 
vicinity of the settlement as long as he could 
render any assistance, arrived at Bethlehem, 
bringing thus early to the brethren there the 
sad tidings. One by one, the next day, the 
fugitives came in. Bethlehem proved an asy- 
lum, though this village itself was far from 
being unexposed to danger. 

After a short time had elapsed, and it was 
thought safe to do so, the brethren went from 
Bethlehem to the scene of ruin and slaughter, 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 67 

to collect the ashes of the slain. Arriving 
here, they found nothing but a blackened heap 
of ruins of the little chapel, the dwellings, and 
the storehouses. They solemnly interred the 
remains of the eleven persons who had perished, 
singing a hymn suitable to the mournful occa- 
sion. But while those who were spared sor- 
rowed for the dead, " they knew not," to use 
their own language, " whether retiring at night, 
they should ever again behold the light of day." 
Such was the fate of the third settlement of the 
brethren, established expressly for the benefit 
of the Indians ; such the overthrow', in one 
short, eventful night, of the labour of so many 
years. Commenced in the year 1746 — in- 
creasing in population until it numbered five 
hundred inhabitants, the greater part natives 
of our forests — a beautiful village, built in the 
midst of the wilderness, with its chapel, com- 
fortable dwellings, and storehouses ; with its 
<; Stranger's Inn," where no price was received 
for the entertainment of the wayfaring travel- 
ler ; with the adjacent fields, highly cultivated 
and productive ; with its admirable internal 
economy — its neatness ; the peace and good 
order which prevailed within it — Gnadenhut- 
ten, with all these marks of its rapid growth 
and increasing prosperity, after it had stood 



68 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS, 

thus the delight and admiration of great num- 
bers of the savages themselves, for about the 
brief period of nine years, presented to the 
eye, in the course of November, 1755, nothing 
but the sad spectacle of a smoking, blackened 
heap of ruins. It may be, that many an Indian, 
when, in after years, he passed that way, weary 
and hungry, remembering the hospitality which 
reigned within its gates, sighed over its un- 
happy fate ; and wished that again the eye 
might be greeted with the sight of Gnaden- 
hutten. But that day never came, — Gnaden- 
hutten was never rebuilt. For the present the 
brethren had nothing before them but the hor- 
rors and calamities of a most fearful and bar- 
barous war. The season of quiet religious 
labour was now, for a time at least, ended ; 
and all was tumult and disquietude. It will be 
necessary for us to trace some of the scenes 
of this warfare, so far at least as the brethren 
and their settlements were involved in them ; 
when we shall gladly return to follow them still 
further and further into the interior of the wil- 
derness, whither they dauntlessly and un- 
tiringly penetrated, seeking in the spirit of 
their divine Master to do good to a race of 
men naturally so untractable, and whose only 
known code or rule of action was so dia- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 69 

metrically opposed, especially, to that spirit of 
meekness and forgiveness of injuries which 
Christianity, as a system of peace and good 
will, requires of all those who embrace it, and 
profess to be governed by its authority. We 
are sorry to say, that the further we proceed, the 
more tragic will be the story we have to relate. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Alas ! now for the cheerful homes, 
"Where dwelt that Christian band — 

For war in all its fierceness roams 
Through that once peaceful land. 

The entire population of Gnadenhutten, both 
missionaries and Indians, were now assembled 
at Bethlehem, and for a season safe from harm, 
though the danger was really imminent. But 
that direful war, which led to the destruction 
of Gnadenhutten, exposed the other settlements 
of the brethren to the same fate, — and for seve- 
ral years seriously interrupted their missionary 
labours, — spreading devastation through all the 
surrounding country. The whole frontier of 
Pennsylvania was laid waste by the savages ; 
houses were burned down, farms destroyed, 



70 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

the inhabitants driven from their homes, and 
the country made a fearful waste. All was 
havoc and desolation. Murders were con- 
stantly committed, following one another in 
quick succession, and often when least ex- 
pected. The people, struck with terror, hardly 
knew whither to flee for safety. Hundreds of 
these distressed men, women, and children, 
who had fled from the savages, sought shelter 
at the settlements of the brethren ; and as long 
as a place could be found for them, they were 
protected and fed. 

Among other tragic incidents that marked 
the war in this region, was the murder of 
Francis Hill, who was despatched by the go- 
vernor of Pennsylvania to the Delawares on 
the Susquehannah, to endeavour to negotiate a 
peace with that nation. He was met by a 
party of the Six Nations, on the road leading 
from Mennesink to Wyoming ; who ascertain- 
ing what his message was, on this account 
murdered him. 

While the war was thus raging fiercely 
around them, the brethren resolved to stand 
their ground both at Bethlehem and Nazareth, 
though so near was the scene of ravage, that 
at the former place they distinctly saw the 
flames arising from several villages which were 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 71 

destroyed by the savages. In describing, how- 
ever, the means of defence employed by the 
brethren, and the dangers and troubles to which 
they were exposed, our flarrative will be con- 
lined to Bethlehem and the congregation there. 
The war breaking out, as we have seen, with 
such furv, and the congregation at Gnadenhut- 
ten being joined to that of Bethlehem, all ima- 
ginable activity was used in placing the settle- 
ment in a posture of defence. To do this, the 
town was surrounded with palisades ; a con- 
stant watch was maintained both by night and 
day ; while those who were at work in the 
plantations had a guard to attend them. To 
keep guard over the town, as well as over 
such as were at work in the fields, was a 
duty assigned chiefly to the Indians, who con- 
sidered it as a high honour to be thus em- 
ployed. "Who am I," said one of them, " that 
I should watch over the children of God ? I, 
poor man, am not worthy of this grace ; nor 
can I guard them aright. Therefore, watch 
thou over them, gracious Saviour, for thou 
alone canst protect them." 

Two causes in particular combined to ex- 
pose Bethlehem to the most imminent danger. 
One was the circumstance of the Indian con- 
gregation at Gnadenhutten fleeing thither for 



72 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

safety. This exceedingly enraged the sur- 
rounding savages, who insisted that every In- 
dian, and among the, rest the Indian converts, 
should rise in arms against the English : threat- 
ening, if they refused, to murder every Indian 
found at Bethlehem. Their irritation was in- 
creased by some absurd reports which they 
heard. One was, that the brethren at Bethle- 
hem had cut off the heads of all the Indians in 
that town, put them into bags, and sent them 
into Philadelphia. This they actually believed ; 
and at one time set off to murder the brethren, 
and burn the settlement ; and were only di- 
verted from their design by the interference of 
a chief friendly to the missionaries. 

Another cause of danger to Bethlehem was 
a strange fanaticism that seized certain anions 
the white people, who demanded the total ex- 
tirpation of the Indian tribes, alleging, as a 
ground for such a measure, that God required 
it at the hands of the whites, as he did the 
extermination of the Canaanites by the Israel- 
ites. These persons conceiving in their impious 
folly and rage the Indians to be accursed of 
God, were greatly incensed against the bre- 
thren, because they afforded them protection 
and assistance. 

By constant watchfulness, as well as by 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 73 

timely information from well-disposed Indians, 
the settlement was happily preserved from 
several attacks which the savages designed 
against it. On hearing of a plot against the 
settlement by the warriors, Indians have been 
known to travel all night to warn the brethren 
of it ; thus frustrating the scheme. Several 
times, under cover of the night, the Indians 
attempted to make a sudden attack upon this 
place ; but when it was found that the inha- 
bitants were on their guard, the attack was relin- 
quished. At such seasons they often ventured 
close to the town, lurking about with torches, 
and endeavouring to shoot burning wadding 
upon the roofs, to set fire to the place. In 
these attempts also they did not succeed. 

One day a party of Indians were on their 
way to a field where about forty sisters were 
picking flax, whom they intended to seize and 
carry off as prisoners. They were already 
close to it, creeping on their bellies, in the 
Indian manner ; but perceiving a strong guard 
of Indian brethren, with their pieces loaded, 
they were glad to retire. 

Thus protected by the timely and suitable 
measures which they took for self-defence, the 
brethren and their Indian congregation at Beth- 
lehem were unharmed through the whole of 



74 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

this war. Amid it all too they attended to their 
usual religious duties, besides erecting addi- 
tional temporary buildings, and re-establishing 
the schools for the instruction of the Indian 
children on the same footing as at Gnaden- 
hutten. In the meanwhile the war continued 
to rage with relentless ferocity, year after year ; 
until the French having evacuated Fort Du 
Quesne, now Pittsburg, (so called after Pitt, 
the great statesman of that day,) the war 
changed to a different quarter, and Pennsyl- 
vania and the neighbouring provinces were 
relieved from the attacks and ravages of their 
savage foes. The treaty of peace, however, 
between Great Britain and France was not 
ratified until the year 1763, the war having 
thus continued in all about eight years. 

It ought, we think, to be stated, to the ho- 
nour of the brethren, that in the very height 
of the war, when the passions of the Indians 
burned the most fiercely, one of their number, 
Christian Frederick Post, of Bethlehem, under- 
took two journeys to the Indians, with the hope 
of bringing about a peace. These journeys 
were made at the request of the government 
of Pennsylvania. In the present state of the 
country this was deemed by many as rash and 
imprudent : but Post, moved by charity, and 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 75 

desirous of putting a stop to murders and the 
effusion of human blood, and considering him- 
self under the protection of the Almighty, con- 
sidered it his duty to go. He was by nature 
well calculated for the enterprise, being a man 
of undaunted courage and enterprising spirit, 
and besides well acquainted with the manners 
and customs of the Indians. After taking a 
farewell of his brethren in the summer of 
1758, cheerful and undaunted he set out on 
one of these hazardous expeditions. He 
was accompanied by two Indian guides, and 
with their aid penetrated a country in which 
neither he nor any of the brethren had been 
before, and to a savage people who had united 
with the French for the destruction of the 
English. He faithfully performed the busi- 
ness intrusted to him by the government ; 
"succeeded," says Heckewelder, "beyond ex- 
pectation," (though he does not say in what 
respects ; yet it is probable this negotiation 
had some connection with the evacuation of 
Fort Du Quesne, which occurred about this 
time,) " giving thanks and praises to the Lord, 
who had preserved him through all the dangers 
and difficulties he had been under."* 

We now return to our Indian congregation. 
* Post'9 Journal 



76 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

In the year 1757 the brethren, entertaining 
some hope of peace, had commenced a new- 
settlement, especially for the accommodation 
of the Indian converts, about a mile from Beth- 
lehem. The grant of land for this purpose the 
brethren had obtained from the government. 
In the year 1758 all the necessary buildings, 
together with a chapel, were completed, and 
the place called Nain. It increased so rapidly, 
that it soon became necessary to form a second 
settlement ; and a tract of land, consisting of 
fourteen hundred acres, lying beyond the Blue 
Mountains, was purchased ; and once more 
arose a new village in the wilderness. The 
name given to it was Wechquetank. It was 
begun with thirty baptized Indians of the De- 
laware nation. The congregations both at Nain 
and Wechquetank were supplied with mission- 
aries and other instructers, and were so pros- 
perous, that they became the admiration of 
visiters, who thought it next to a miracle that, 
by the light of the gospel, a savage race should 
be brought to live together in peace and har- 
mony, and, above all, devote themselves to 
religion. Hostilities were long suspended in 
this part of the country, and for several years 
the congregations continued to nourish, receiv- 
ing no disturbance from the savages. At length 



8CBNES IN THE WILDERNESS. 77 

[ndian hostilities were recommenced with fresh 
vigour, and the Christian Indians involved in 
new calamities. 

The rumour of war at first came from a dis- 
tant part of the country. In the year 1763 the 
Indians began their murderous ravages on the 
Ohio and near the lakes of Canada. Incur- 
sions were even made into Pennsylvania. It 
was now feared that the scenes which had 
been witnessed in the years 1755, 1756, and 
1757, would be renewed, and the whole coun- 
try, which was rapidly recovering from the 
effects of the former war, be once more deso- 
lated. In the general excitement against the 
Indians as a nation, those belonging to the 
brethren's settlements, though utterly opposed 
to any acts of hostility committed by their 
countrymen, yet, as usual, fell in for their 
share of obloquy and hatred. Among other 
things, the old fanatical opinion was revived, 
that this new war was a punishment from God 
on the white people, because they had neglect- 
ed to extirpate the savages ; and, therefore, 
they asserted that all the Indians without ex- 
ception should be put to the sword. The set- 
tlements of Nain and Wechquetank, as being 
chiefly Indian settlements, were especially the 
objects of their enmity ; and it was said, that 



78 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

if only one white man in the vicinity of either 
of them should be murdered, signal vengeance 
should be taken on both. This feeling of hos- 
tility constantly increasing, the danger became 
every day greater : until at length an Irish set- 
tlement within a few miles of Bethlehem hav- 
ing been attacked by the Indians, and several 
persons killed, attempts were actually made 
by parties of white people to destroy both Nain 
and Wechquetank ; and though for the present 
they were preserved, yet the most violent 
threats were uttered against the Christian In- 
dians if they did not immediately abandon 
them. Under these circumstances it was 
thought best to relinquish Wechquetank ; and 
on the 11th of October, 1763, the whole con- 
gregation set off in wagons for Nazareth. It 
was with extreme regret they removed from 
so pleasant a place. They left, for strange 
occupants to take possession of, their houses, 
their land in a fine state of cultivation, toge- 
ther with their harvest, which they had just 
reaped, with almost all their cattle : — rich spoil 
for such of the white people as resided in that 
vicinity, and leading to the conclusion, that 
a spirit of rapacity was mingled with their, 
perhaps, assumed fears of the Christian In- 
dians. 



SCENES IN THT. WILDERNESS. 79 

While Wechquetank was actually abandon- 
ed, the congregation at Nain was in a state of 
close blockade. Though Bethlehem was but 
a mile distant, the intercourse with that place 
could not be kept up. The congregation at 
Nain were obliged to keep a watch both by 
day and night, and even to place guards at 
their chapel doors during service. Week after 
week this vigilance had to be maintained, the 
inhabitants in the discharge of this duty suffer- 
ing much by the cold at night. Every morning 
their joys were renewed at seeing each other 
again after the fears of the night. These 
inconveniences, trials, and dangers, were pa- 
tiently endured, under the expectation that 
they would at length be effectually protected 
by the properly constituted authorities of Penn- 
sylvania. 

W T hile the congregation at Nain was in this 
condition, the fears of all were greatly height- 
ened by the arrest of Renatus, a harmless In- 
dian, on the 19th day of October, on the 
pretence that he was one of the party engaged 
m the attack and murder of the Irish settle- 
ment a few miles from Bethlehem. He was 
forthwith taken to Philadelphia, and imprisoned. 

The report that one of the Christian Indians 
hid been recognised as one of the party in the 



80 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

attack upon the Irish settlement, and sworn to 
as such by the widow of an Irish settler who 
had been murdered upon that occasion, flew 
like lightning through the country, and kindled 
the fury of the white people against the Indians 
into a more violent flame than ever. Such in- 
deed w T as the excitement which existed at the 
time — so disposed were the people to take the 
law into their own hands, and to sacrifice these 
innocent Christian Indians as victims to their 
fury — that the government of Pennsylvania be- 
coming alarmed for their safety, and anxious 
to save their lives, ordered that all the baptized 
Indians should be brought to Philadelphia for 
protection. In consequence of this order, and 
the arrangements entered into to carry it into 
effect, the sheriff of the county, John Jennings, 
a gentleman high in the esteem of the Christian 
Indians, came to Bethlehem, where all were 
assembled, to take charge of them, and conduct 
them to Philadelphia. The Indians having 
delivered up their arms, and a farewell sermon 
having been preached to them in the church 
by the bishop, Peter Bochler, from Psa. v, 8, 
" Make thy way straight before my face," on 
the 8th of November, 1763, these once savage, 
merciless warriors, but now lambs in the midst 
of wolves, took their sorrowful departure from 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 81 

Bethlehem. They set out in wagons, accom- 
panied not only by the sheriff and such officers 
as he had brought along to assist in securing 

OB O 

their safety on the way, but also by several 
missionaries and other brethren. The season 
of the year, the inclemency of the weather, 
the insults and threats they met with on the 
road, (many as the train of wagons passed 
along saying that hanging and burning ought 
to be their doom,) the aged, the sick, the in' 
firm, and the young children, that composed 
part of their company, all combined to render 
their journey to Philadelphia exceedingly te- 
dious and painful. Three days they were on 
the road, arriving in Philadelphia on the 11th, 
at ten o'clock, A. M. Having reached this 
city, the train proceeded to the barracks, 
where by order of the governor they were to 
be lodged ; but upon their arrival the soldiers 
refused them admittance. Thus excluded from 
the barracks, they were compelled to remain in 
the street until three in the afternoon ; surround- 
ed all the while by an angry mob, who were 
continually reviling them, and charging them 
with all the outrages committed by the enemy ; 
threatening, at the same time, to kill them on 
the spot. In the midst of all their rage, deri- 
sion, and threats, the Christian Indians sat 

C 



82 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

wholly unmoved, not uttering one word, but 
relying solely on the providence of God, to 
whom alone they afterward ascribed their pre- 
servation. 

Several painful hours having thus elapsed, 
and the soldiers still persisting in their reso- 
lution, despite of the express orders of the 
magistrates of the city, the wagoners were at 
length ordered to proceed. Surrounded and 
followed by a large, tumultuous concourse of 
people, they passed on, until about six o'clock 
this inoffensive and injured company arrived 
at Province Island, in Delaware River, about 
six miles below the city. At this place, some 
large buildings having been provided for them, 
they were lodged in them, and afterward set- 
tled on this island as well as circumstances 
would permit. 

Subsequent events soon showed that the In- 
dians had a narrow escape ; their settlement 
at Wechquetank being entirely destroyed by 
the white population, and also Bethlehem set 
on fire. As to the latter place, the fire was 
put out before any great amount of damage 
was sustained. About the same time was 
committed a most diabolical act upon a settle- 
ment of harmless Indians, who had long lived 
quietly among the English in the small village 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 83 

of Canestoga, near Lancaster. A party of 
white people murdered fourteen of their num- 
ber, the rest having escaped to Lancaster. 
The magistrates of that town immediately took 
them under their protection, and lodged them 
in the workhouse, a strong and secure building. 
Thither, however, the murderers followed them. 
They marched into the town at noonday, broke 
into the workhouse, and though the poor de- 
fenceless Indians begged for life on their 
knees, the ruffians massacred them all in cold 
blood, and threw their mangled bodies into the 
street. They then departed with a shout of 
triumph, threatening that the Indians in Pro- 
vince Island should soon share a similar fate. 

This barbarous act, which, on account of the 
lawlessness of the times, and the deep, general 
hatred which was felt against all who bore the 
name and complexion of the Indian race, go- 
vernment could not, or dared not, punish, led 
to the most lively apprehensions on the part 
of the brethren for the safety of their Indian 
con sere oration. Those on Province Island had 
already, as we have just seen, been threatened 
with a fate similar to that which befell the In- 
dians at Lancaster ; and such was the number 
of people who seemed disposed to carry out 
this terrible measure, including many even of 



81 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

the inhabitants of Philadelphia, that there was 
every reason to fear lest these threats would 
be executed, and every Indian murdered who 
had been taken under the protection of govern- 
ment. A proclamation, it is true, had been 
issued, forbidding any one to molest the Chris- 
tian Indians on Province Island ; but owing to 
the weakness of the government it was likely 
to avail but little. Government knowing this, 
and learning about the commencement of the 
year 1764 that an attack would be made upon 
the island, resolved to place the persecuted 
congregation under the protection of the Eng- 
lish army ; sending them by the way of New- 
York. They were accordingly directed to hold 
themselves in readiness to set out at a mo- 
merit's warning. This was done ; and orders 
for their departure soon after arriving, on the 
4th of January, at midnight, they left Province 
Island, passed through Philadelphia, almost 
unobserved, to the brethren^ chapel. Here 
they were met, and most cordially received, 
by a number of brethren and friends, who had 
provided a breakfast for them in the chapel. 
Here also Mr. Fox, the commissary, ordered a 
number of blankets to be distributed among 
them ; when, wagons being provided to carry 
the aged, the blind, the sick, and the children, 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 85 

together with their baggage, they oace more 
set out, accompanied by their missionaries. 
But by this time so great a crowd had assem- 
bled that they could scarcely proceed. These 
followed the Indians with their imprecations, 
until an escort of seventy Highlanders falling 
in, the mob dispersed. From Philadelphia 
they proceeded to Trenton, and thence to Am- 
boy ; receiving no personal injury on their jour- 
ney, though frequently insulted, especially in 
passing through New- Jersey. 

Having reached Amboy in safety, and being 
just ready to embark in two sloops which were 
engaged to carry them to New-York, a new 
disaster arose. An express arrived from the 
governor of New- York, strictly forbidding any 
Indian setting his foot on the New- York terri- 
tory ; and at the same time it was stated that 
any who should bring them there would be 
liable to a severe penalty. Thus thwarted in 
their plans, the Indians were obliged to wait 
for further orders at Amboy, being lodged in 
the barracks at that place. The Indians, un- 
disturbed by what had happened, immediately 
commenced holding their meetings in the usual 
order, which were well attended by the inha- 
bitants of the vicinity. The effect of this was 
that much prejudice was removed. Those 



86 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

who attended admired their devotion, and were 
especially delighted with their singing. One 
of the soldiers exclaimed, " Would to God all 
the white people were as good Christians as 
these Indians !" 

In the meanwhile an express was despatched 
to the governor of Pennsylvania, informing him 
of the unexpected detention, and requesting 
directions as to what was to be done in this 
exigency. He at once gave orders for them to 
return to Philadelphia, providing for their safe 
conduct by a guard of one hundred and seventy 
men, commanded by Captain Schlosser, an 
officer deservedly esteemed for his humanity 
and manly conduct in protecting these perse- 
cuted Indians. The Indians set out upon their 
return to Philadelphia with cheerfulness, one 
half of their guard leading the van, and the 
other bringing up the rear. 

On their arrival at Philadelphia, January 
24th, they were this time lodged in the bar- 
racks, where they were guarded both day and 
night. Once more settled, though far from 
being free from alarm, they met daily for 
divine service. But the danger increased. A 
mob was raised, and were so violent in their 
outcry, that it was found necessary to double 
the guard. This only quelled the multitude 



SCENES IN THE WILDEK NKSs. 87 

for a time. It was not long before certain 
information was received, that out of the city, 
as well as in it, mobs were collecting with the 
intention of uniting their force, overpowering 
resistance, and massacring the Indian congre- 
gation. In this emergency the governor and 
magistracy of the city acted promptly, effi- 
ciently, and with courage. They determined 
to repel force by force. Eight pieces of heavy 
ordnance were drawn up to the barracks, and 
a rampart thrown up in the middle of the 
square. The citizens, and even many young 
Quakers, took up arms, and repaired to the 
barracks to give them their assistance. The 
governor himself, and several other persons of 
distinction, visited them, bidding them be of 
good cheer, and assuring them of their deter- 
mination to protect them from violence. 

The Indians having, for the sake of greater 
safety, been removed from the lower to the up- 
per part of the buildings, and every necessary 
preparation made, on the 4th of February word 
came that the mob were on their way, well 
armed, and ready to execute their threats at 
any hazard. The whole town was in an up- 
roar. It proved to be but an alarm. The mob, 
knowing the preparations made to receive them, 
did not venture to approach ; and the citizens 



88 SCENES IN iili: VVILBEKNB 

returning to their homes, quiet was restored. 
On the next night the alarm was renew- 
ed ; and the whole town again in motion. 
The church bells were rung, the streets illu- 
minated, and arms and ammunition were dis- 
tributed among the citizens, who, suddenly 
awakened from their sleep, were ordered to 
attend at the town-house. Two companies 
of the armed citizens being formed, repaired 
to the barracks, while four additional cannon 
were mounted. But another night passed 
away, and no enemy made their appearance ; 
as also another day, though in hourly expecta- 
tion of the infuriated mob. The Indians during 
all these scenes considered themselves as de- 
voted to slaughter ; and though they were very 
thankful for the spirited exertions of the go- 
vernment made in their behalf, yet they placed 
their strongest hope in the Lord, saying, " God 
can help us." And they were helped : they 
were effectually protected. Under God pow- 
erful friends were raised up for their defence 
and security in the hour of need ; and such 
were the vigorous measures adopted, that the 
mob, not daring to come in contact with the 
armed force prepared for their reception, at 
length dispersed, leaving the Christian Indians 



SCENES l.\ THE WILDERNESS. 89 

to enjoy, without further serious molestation, 
the protection of government. 

The series of trials through which the In- 
dians had passed, the violent steps taken by 
their enemies to destroy them, the general 
tumult which had been excited, all tended to 
give an edge to curiosity, and to make the In- 
dian congregation an object of deep and lively 
interest. People of all ranks flocked to see 
them. They were literally a spectacle to thou- 
sands. But especially on the sabbath were 
their religious services attended by multitudes 
of attentive hearers ; and it is reasonable to 
suppose that the word spoken, with the change 
wrought in the conduct and temper of the In- 
dians, were not without their real use to the 
thronging crowds. 

Quiet and order being once more restored, 
the Indians, under the guidance and instruc- 
tions of their missionaries, who had remained 
with them in all their trials, not flinching from 
their post when danger threatened, resumed 
their usual routine of duties. They met for 
divine service morning and evening : the Lord's 
supper was administered at stated intervals, 
and a school opened for the instruction of the 
youth in the English language. Indeed they 



90 SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 

had little else to attend to, or to engage their 
attention, as they seem to have been confined 
to the barracks, while their wants were gene- 
rously supplied by the English government. 

Under these circumstances the Indians did 
as well as they could, though they were nei- 
ther contented nor happy. Their confinement 
to the barracks, w r hich they considered little 
short of imprisonment, was a hard trial ; and 
to some of them especially very afflicting. 
Their food did not agree with them : they 
could have no bodily exercise : — especially 
were they deprived of their wonted occupation 
of hunting. Living as they did in such close 
contact seemed to them insupportable. These, 
and other privations which they had to endure, 
caused some of them to become low spirited, 
and they wished to be set at liberty. Their 
trials were still further increased, as the sum- 
mer advanced, by fevers and the small pox 
breaking out among them, which greatly ex- 
cited their dread and horror. Many now re- 
solved to escape from their confinement ; and 
were only diverted from their purpose by the 
advice and perseverance of the missionaries, 
who were unwearied in visiting and comfort- 
ing them. The labours of these devoted men 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 91 

were at length crowned with success ; when 
all the uneasiness of the Indians was changed 
into perfect resignation to the will of God. 
" To the sick," says Heckewelder, " relief 
was afforded by that benevolent and humane 
Friend, whom the Lord alone can reward for 
his great attention and labours of love." 

Sickness having broken out in the Indian 
congregation, sad indeed was the scene that 
followed. In a little while fifty-six of their 
number were removed by death. But there 
was joy even amid the gloom and ravages of 
sickness and death. The survivors sorrowed 
for the departed not as those without hope : 
regarding them as released from all misery, 
pain, and distress, by a most happy translation 
into everlasting life. Most edifying was it to 
all who had visited those dying Indians, to see 
with what resignation they bore their suffer- 
ings, and the cheerfulness thev evinced in 
the final hour, in the hope of soon seeing their 
Saviour face to face. Their last resting place, 
after all their wanderings and trials in the ser- 
vice and for the sake of Christ, was a burying 
ground called Potters' Field. Among the num- 
ber that died was the father, the wife, and the 
child of Renatus, who during their sickness 



92 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

was not permitted to see them ; he being, as 
our readers will recollect, confined in prison 
on a charge of murder.* 

But the hour of freedom and joy at length 
arrived. On the 4th of December, 1764, peace 
having been concluded with the hostile Indian 
nations, a proclamation to this effect was issued 
by government. The joy of the Christian In- 
dians at this news it is said exceeded all de- 
scription. The Indians being now at liberty 
to go in what direction they pleased, resolved, 
with the advice and concurrence of the mis- 
sionaries, not to return to their former settle- 
ments in the vicinity of the whites, but to 
penetrate the wilderness, and settle in their 
own country. Previously to their final de- 
parture, on the 18th of March, they delivered 
the following address to the governor of Penn- 
sylvania : — 

" We, the Christian Indians, now residing 
in the barracks, and intending to return with 

* The trial of Renatus for murder, after an imprison- 
ment of eight months, though strenuous efforts were 
made by the enemies of the brethren, who greatly wished 
to witness the execution of a Moravian Indian, resulted 
in his entire acquittal. On the 4th day of July, 1764, the 
Christian Indians in the barracks had the joy once more 
to see and embrace Renatus. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 93 

our wives and children unto our own country, 
approach unto you to take our leave, and to 
return unto you our most sincere thanks. We 
acknowledge with unfeigned gratitude the great 
kindness and friendship you have shown unto 
us during the late war. We were indeed in 
danger of our lives ; but you protected and de- 
fended us against our enemies, so that we have 
lived in peace. As a father, you have provided 
us with food and raiment. You have nursed us 
in sickness, and buried our dead. .We have 
likewise heard, with joy, that you will in 
future give us flour until our corn is ripe. We 
thank you more particularly that we have been 
allowed to have our teachers with us during 
these heavy trials, who have instructed us 
daily in the word of God. They have shown 
us the way to salvation, so that we are now 
become acquainted with our Creator, and can 
love all men. We, therefore, greatly rejoice 
that our teachers, Schmick and Zeisberger, go 
with us into the Indian country, that they may 
continue to instruct us in the doctrine of salva- 
tion. Your kindness, protection, and benevo- 
lence, will never be forgotten by us. We shall 
bear your goodness in our hearts : we shall 
speak of it to the other Indians. As long as 
we live we shall remain true friends to the 



94 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

English. We also beg permission to request 
of you to give us powder and shot, that we 
may provide food for our journey. Finally, 
we pray that God may bless you ! We, the 
underwritten, do this in the name of all our 
people, — remaining your faithful friends, 

John Papunhank, 
Joshua Anthony, 
Shem Evans." 

In our next chapter we shall follow them in 
their emigration to the west. 



CHAPTER V. 

Far from their homes and fanes they turn, 

Amid the forest lone, 
For some rude glen, where they may learn, 

Unnoticed and unknown. 

A home is found amid its bowers ; 

Altars to God they raise ; 
And here the Indian's happy hours 

Are spent in prayer and praise. 

The Indian congregation once more free, 
joyfully made the necessary preparations to 
return — not, as had been agreed upon, to their 
former settlements — where they would be inter- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 95 

mixed with, and surrounded by, the white set- 
tlers — but to the remote and secluded wilder- 
ness, their own natural and ever-loved haunts. 
The spot selected for a new settlement (land 
being readily granted by the government) was 
an eligible situation on the banks of the Sus- 
quehannah, about one mile below Wyalusing 
Creek. In March, 1765, after a confinement 
of about sixteen months, the Indian congrega- 
tion left Philadelphia on their way to the west, 
passing through Bethlehem to Nain, their for- 
mer place of abode, where they rested for 
some time. At length, every thing being ar- 
ranged for the journey, a farewell sermon w r as 
preached to them by their old and much-re- 
spected missionary, Gaube, at which many 
from Bethlehem were present. On the third 
of April this company of Christian Indians set 
out on their journey, passing once more through 
Bethlehem for the last time, and taking an 
affectionate leave of all the inhabitants of the 
place, assembled together for that purpose 
The conductors appointed by government to 
escort them part of the way, were Mr. Moor, 
a justice of the peace ; Mr. Ruchline, high 
sheriff; Lieutenant Huntsecker, and Mr. Efty; 
gentlemen whose names are here inserted with 
gratitude for their attention and kindness to 



96 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

these Indians. Some brethren from Bethlehem 
likewise accompanied them until they had 
passed the frontier settlements : the distance 
to which the wagons with the sick, infirm, 
and the heavy baggage, had been ordered to 
proceed. 

The company of pilgrims, attended by the 
missionaries, Schmick and Zeisberger, pur- 
sued their route, passing through Nazareth, 
and thence crossing the Blue Mountains, and 
the Great Pine and Beach Swamp, direct to 
Wyoming. The journey is said to have been 
exceedingly laborious : the more so, as owing 
to the still existing animosity of the white peo- 
ple, they were obliged to take a very circuitous 
route. Such parts of their baggage as were 
not sent by wagons they had often to carry 
over high, steep, and rocky hills, in small par- 
cels ; by which means they had to travel the 
same road several times over. In some places 
they had to cut their way through the woods ; 
in one instance for no less than five miles 
together. Through the brooks and rivers the 
men were obliged to wade, and for the women 
and children they had to prepare rafts ; a work 
of considerable difficulty, as the violent currents 
often carried away the trees they had cut down 
for this purpose, before they could be fixed 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 1)7 

together. Nay, some rivers were so broad and 
deep, that they were obliged to encamp on 
their banks, and to build canoes in which to 
cross them. As for lodging, they had to sleep 
chiefly in the open woods ; and in some in- 
stances they were under the necessity of stop- 
ping all night in swamps, there being no dry 
ground near at hand. The greatest difficulty 
of all, however, was the want of provisions. 
Hunting was their chief support ; but in some 
places neither game nor fish could be found. 
When their whole stock of flour was exhaust- 
ed, it was truly affecting to behold them receive 
their last portion. They were now glad to find 
wild potatoes in the woods, though nothing but 
hunger could have rendered them palatable. 
To satisfy the children who cried for w r ant, 
they peeled the chestnut trees, and made them 
suck the juices under the bark, and even the 
old people were under the necessity of resort- 
ing to the same expedient. As for drink, they 
had often nothing but the muddy water found 
in swampy puddles. One night they were 
terribly alarmed by the woods being on fire, 
and burning most furiously around their en- 
campment, from ten o'clock till one in the 
morning. But all these trials were forgotten 
in their daily meetings, in which they expe- 

7 



98 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

rienced the presence of Christ in a most re- 
markable manner. They usually held them in 
the evening, around a large fire, in the open 
air. At length, after a tedious and irksome jour- 
ney of five weeks, they arrived at the place of 
their destination ; and as a mariner, after a 
storm, rejoices to enter the haven, so the In- 
dian congregation, after the many trials and 
hardships they had of late endured, were happy 
to reach their new abode, where they hoped to 
enjoy peace, tranquillity, and rest. 

The name given to the new Indian town 
on the Susquehannah was Friedenshutten, or 
" Tents of Peace." It was no great distance 
from the North Bend. The situation was an 
eligible one ; and a pleasant village soon rose 
in the wilderness. Ground was cleared, fenced, 
and cultivated. Upward of forty houses (be- 
sides thirteen Indian huts) were built of w r ood, 
lighted with windows, covered with shingles, 
and provided with chimneys. The street was 
eighty feet broad ; and in the middle of it stood 
the chapel, a neat and spacious building. The 
ground next the houses was laid out in gardens, 
enclosed with good clap-board fence ; and be- 
tween the settlement and the river about two 
hundred and fifty acres were divided into regu- 
lar plantations of Indian corn. The burying 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 99 

ground was situated at some distance, at the 
back of the buildings. The Indians laboured 
with the utmost cheerfulness in building this, 
as they thought, the most beautiful Indian town 
they had ever seen. 

It seems that at the first settlement provi- 
sions were scarce, though, about the time of 
their departure from Philadelphia, a grant had 
been procured by an influential friend of the 
brethren, Mr. Fox, that they should be pro- 
vided with flour, from the time of their arrival 
on the Susquehannah, till their newly-planted 
Indian corn should be ripe. In this emergency 
they obtained a supply from the woods ; sub- 
stituting wild potatoes, and various other roots 
and plants dug by the women and children, for 
bread, and the usual garden vegetables. The 
industry of the Indians, directed and stimulated 
by their teachers, soon, however, abundantly 
supplied all their wants. Thus situated, they 
were contented and happy ; and their numbers 
constantly increasing, brightened their future 
prospects. 

In the new settlement the usual religious 
exercises were of course strictly observed. 
Morning and evening meetings were daily 
held ; and the Sundays were entirely devoted 
to solemn reflection and divine service. The 



100 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

sacraments also were administered at proper 
seasons ; and every regulation necessary for 
the preservation of peace and good order was 
made, and heartily agreed to. But that which 
to the brethren was of greater importance by 
far, than to have their wine and oil increase, 
was the cause of religion, which flourished 
greatly in Friedenshutten ; and this not only 
in the congregation itself, but among those, as 
yet, wild and untaught natives of the forest — 
great numbers of whom, attracted by the fame 
of the settlement, flocked thither to see a sight 
so strange and so novel. It is true other mo- 
tives were often mingled with that of curiosity 
and the novelty of the scene. Famine at home, 
and the general report that the Christian In- 
dians were hospitable, and were at all times 
plentifully supplied with provisions, may be 
considered as one cause of these visits ; but 
still, with this drawback, the brethren had 
good reason to suppose that their labours were 
blessed to the awakening and conversion of 
many of these casual visiters. Many of them 
were indeed deeply impressed by the gospel, 
and were filled with serious concern for their 
souls. Frequently the whole assembly was so 
moved, and the weeping of the congregation 
so general, that the missionaries were obliged 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 101 

to stop, and mingle their tears with those of 
the people. Among the Indians, who, with 
the ancient Stoics, held tears in the most su- 
preme contempt, to behold this new floodgate 
of deep feeling opened, was a striking proof 
of the powerful efficacy of the gospel on their 
hearts. "Whenever," said one of the converts, 
" I saw a man shed tears, I used to doubt whe- 
ther he was a man. I would not have wept, 
though my enemies had cut my flesh from my 
bones. That I now weep is of God, who has 
softened the hardness of my heart." 

One evidence of the progress of the gospel 
in Friedenshutten, and its effect upon the In- 
dians who visited the settlement, is the fact 
that, in the year 1767, not two years from the 
time the town w r as first formed, the congrega- 
tion was obliged to build a larger place of 
worship. The new church was built of squared 
white pine timber, shingle roofed, with a neat 
cupola and bell on the top. Another proof of 
the effect of the brethren's labours was the ex- 
tension of their work. In a town about thirty 
miles up the river a powerful awakening be- 
gan, and a missionary was at length settled in 
that place, and maintained regular meetings 
for public worship. This new scene of labour 
was called Sheshequon. So happily did reli- 



102 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

gion for some time prosper in this vicinity, 
that it seemed as if all the Indians in the town 
of Sheshequon, and its neighbourhood, would 
embrace the gospel. 

Toward the close of the second year the 
peace of the settlement was for a little while 
interrupted by traders, both whites and Indians, 
who came there to exchange their liquor for 
peltry. The sale of the liquor was at once 
forbidden, and the traders ordered to depart 
from the town. The Indians went off peace- 
ably, but the white traders refused to leave, 
saying they had a right to sell liquor where and 
to whom they pleased : but the Indian brethren, 
to whom the police of the place was commit- 
ted, remaining firm in their resolution of not 
allowing any traffic of this kind, they at length 
left the town. 

Here we shall leave Friedenshutten for the 
present, and follow the track of these devoted 
missionaries as they penetrated further and fur- 
ther into the wilderness. 

Zeisberger, of all the missionaries of the 
brethren in North America the most intrepid, 
active, and enterprising, learning that some 
Indians living on the Alleghany River were 
anxious to hear the gospel, in September, 1767, 
set out, in company with two Indian assistants, 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS, 103 

named Anthony and Papunhank, to carry the 
message of peace to them. During this jour- 
ney Zeisberger and his assistants endured great 
hardships, travelling as they did through an 
extensive wilderness, interspersed with rivers 
and creeks, mountains and swamps. They 
had also, it is said, to pass over plains over- 
grown with such high grass that a man on 
horseback was completely covered by it ; and 
when either dew or rain had fallen they were 
completely drenched to the skin. At other 
times they had by day to work, with immense 
labour, a path through the thickets, and at 
night to sleep in the open air, exposed to the 
cold and all the inclemency of the weather ; 
rain being almost incessant. 

After travelling in this way many days, they 
came to a forsaken Indian town. Zeisberger 
was greatly struck with its appearance ; for it 
stood in a situation of singular loveliness and 
beauty. " Here," he observes, " was the first 
grove of silver fir I had ever seen in America." 
Near by was one of the sources of the River 
Ohio. It gushed forth in a narrow stream, and 
wound its way into the vast plain. Whether 
war or famine had desolated the town, he 
could not tell, but it was utterly forsaken : the 
dwellings were all entire, nor was there any 



104 SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 

trace of ravage apparent. He and Lis Indian 
assistants entered one of them, and made it 
their home for the night ; partook of a simple 
meal, and drank of the fountain of the Ohio, 
whose vicinity had probably induced the In- 
dians to settle here. 

Leaving the forsaken town, the three tra- 
velled on : the wilderness, the further they 
proceeded, growing more horrid; until at length 
they came, after several days, to a hut in the 
midst of the forest, inhabited by an Indian 
hunter, who lived here with his family, apart 
from all his tribe. So thick was the forest at 
this place, and so great the gloom of the over- 
hanging trees, that the rays of the sun could 
never penetrate to the dwelling. A human 
face had long been strange to the savage, 
whose love of independence had for years 
estranged him from all his people. Surely the 
hunter and his guests must have felt like bro- 
thers, meeting thus in so utter a solitude ! In 
this hut they took up their night's lodging. 

The day after leaving the Indian's lonely 
hut the travellers reached the first Seneca 
town. So unusual was the sight of a white 
man in that remote region, that one of the In- 
dians mounted his horse, and rode off to a 
village thirty miles distant, to carry the news 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 105 

to the chief. The next day, when Zeisberger 
reached this village, he received at first a very 
rough reception ; but so conciliating was the 
mild and gentle behaviour of the missionary, 
that the chief conducted him to his own house, 
and invited him to eat. Here, however, they 
tarried not, but still pressed on, until, a few 
days after, they reached the end of their journey. 
This was a village called Goschgoshing, situ- 
ated on the Alleghany River, not far from its 
entrance into the Ohio, and at no great distance 
from the present city of Pittsburg. 

On his w r ay to this place, Zeisberger had 
received the most unfavourable accounts of its 
inhabitants. The Seneca chief had expressly 
warned him not to trust them, " who," he said, 
" had not their equals in wickedness and thirst 
for blood." He had been in the village but a 
short time before he found that the accounts he 
had received were not overdrawn. " Never," 
he observes, " have I seen the abominations 
of paganism practised in so horrible a man- 
ner ; — never have I beheld sin assume so 
hideous and unblushing a form as at this 
place. It seemed to be the seat of Satan's 
court, — it appeared the very centre of his 
throne !" 

In the midst of such scenes, and such a 



10G SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

people, did this devoted missionary now stand : 
far more appalling to the courage than to have 
stood with St. Paul on Mars Hill. One thing 
was in his favour. In one of the villages (the 
town consisted of three distinct villages, all 
standing on the river) there lived a relation of 
Papunhanks, one of his Indian assistants. 
This person, who dwelt in the middle village, 
received Zeisberger into his house. 

The news of the missionary's arrival was 
soon known, and all the town came together to 
hear his message. His first address was de- 
livered at night. The large dwelling chosen 
for the purpose was illumined by the great 
fires which the Indians burn, and which were 
larger than usual on this occasion. Such was 
the force of his address, that several times 
they involuntarily exclaimed, " Yes ! that is 
certainly true ; that is the way to happiness !" 
At the close of the discourse they remained 
silent for some time. 

Thus favoured with open ears, Zeisberger 
continued to labour among them. Many of the 
people could never hear him enough. The 
two Indian assistants were often employed 
till past midnight, in repeating and explain- 
ing " the great words" uttered by the mis- 
sionary. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 107 

The time having at length arrived for Zeis- 
berger to leave, with the intention of returning 
with additional helps, and forming a settlement 
in this place, if permission could be obtained, 
before he left the town he assembled all the 
men in council, and asked them whether they 
would wish him to repeat the visit. To this 
they unanimously gave their consent. Zeis- 
berger accordingly left Goschgoshing, intend- 
ing to return the next spring. 

In the spring of 1768, Zeisberger, with Sen- 
seman, (whose wife it will be recollected per- 
ished in the flames at Gnadenhutten,) together 
with three families of the Indian converts from 
Friedenshutten, returned to Goschgoshing, and 
commenced a new mission. The missionaries 
built themselves a comfortable log-house, on a 
convenient spot, at a small distance from the 
Indian village. Here they lived ; and hither 
all who felt a desire to hear the gospel resorted. 
At first the prospect was favourable. Zeis- 
berger preached every day, and it became evi- 
dent that his words had a good effect on many. 
On these occasions the Indians attended in 
great numbers, and it was not a little curious 
to see so many assembled to hear the gospel, 
with their faces painted black and vermilion, 
and their heads decorated with clusters of 



108 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

feathers and foxes' tails. As one instance of 
the practical influence of the gospel, one man, 
learning, among other things, that stealing was 
a crime and a sin, came to Zeisberger, very 
seriously saying, that he never in his life had 
been guilty of theft except in two instances, 
having stolen two sheep and a hen, the pro- 
perty of a white man. 

The success of the missionaries, as usual, 
soon excited opposition. In the absence of 
white men to sow discord, or create prejudice, 
other causes were found to operate ; it being 
the fate of religion, in some form or other, to 
excite the deep-rooted enmity of the human 
heart. At first the chiefs, jealous of their own 
authority, became disaffected. The Seneca 
chief (referred to before) was also enraged that 
the brethren should settle here, suspecting that 
others would soon follow, build a fort, and take 
possession of the country. They had some 
vague fears, also, lest they should be made 
slaves, if they allowed themselves to be in- 
structed by a teacher from among the white 
people. These various causes, some of which 
seem natural enough, were at least alleged as 
reasons for their opposition ; though, at the 
same time, from the peculiar character of the 
people, there is no doubt there was a strong 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 109 

opposition to the gospel itself. The old women 
of the village were the first active opposers 
They said the Indian corn was blasted, or de- 
voured by the worms : that the deer and other 
game had fled from the woods : that chestnuts 
and bilberries would no longer grow in their 
country, because the white men brought strange 
things to their ears, and the Indians began to 
change their manner of life. To give the 
greater effect to their representations, the sor- 
cerers appointed solemn sacrifices, and offered 
up hogs by way of atonement. This was done 
to appease the wrath of the Great Spirit. The 
flame which w r as thus kindled was increased 
by secret messages sent by the Six Nations to 
the Indians of Goschgoshing, in which they 
urged that Zeisberger should either be banished 
from the village or murdered. In addition to 
the reports we have alluded to, others were 
circulated, all more or less calculated to with- 
draw the attention of the Indians from the gos- 
pel truths, to excite their animosity against the 
brethren, and effectually to oppose the progress 
of the gospel. To a considerable extent these 
efforts succeeded. The enemies of the mis- 
sionaries became daily more violent than ever ; 
and even many of those who expressed the 
greatest joy at their arrival, were now the 



110 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

most bitter against them. The lives of the 
missionaries were in the most imminent danger. 
But, amid all these threats and troubles, Zeis- 
berger and Senseman had one source of sup- 
port and consolation : — many Indians remained 
faithful. Among this number was the Monsey 
chief, Allemewi, a firm friend, and warm de- 
fender of the gospel. These friends of the 
missionaries endeavoured to prevent liquors 
from being brought into the villages in opposi- 
tion to their enemies, who encouraged the 
traffic in this article, — hoping that what the 
Indians would not venture to do when sober, 
might easily be effected when in a state of 
intoxication. 

The inhabitants of the town were at length 
divided into two parties. The leader of the 
party opposed to the missionaries was Wan- 
gomend. Wangomend and his party, which 
was much the more numerous, opposed the 
gospel with the utmost violence. At the head 
of the Christian Indian party was the chief 
Allemewi ; who, after living to the great age 
of one hundred and twenty years, with every 
inveterate habit and feeling of the savage, at 
this extreme point of human life embraced the 
gospel. He had at first merely given his pro- 
tection and countenance to the missionaries ; 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. Ill 

but at length, in spite of many scruples of 
mind, and much opposition from others, his 
objections were removed, his heart wholly sub- 
dued, and the venerable warrior yielded to the 
resistless influence of mercy. Having formed 
the resolution to make a public avowal of his 
faith in the gospel, he desired to be conducted 
to the assembly, saying, " I can bear it no 
longer : my heart is full within me, and I have 
no rest night nor day. Unless I shall soon re- 
ceive comfort I must die." He was baptized on 
Christmas day, 1768, and afterward could not 
sufficiently express the peace he felt : even 
his frame seemed to borrow new vigour. " Not 
only," he said, " is my heart at ease, but my 
body is restored to health. I could not believe 
that I should enjoy such happiness." 

This aged warrior was the leader of the 
Christian Indian party. If the one party was 
violent, the other was resolute. At length the 
opposition increased to such a pitch, that Al- 
lemewi determined to leave Goschgoshing with 
those Indians who were either friendly to, or 
had actually embraced Christianity. This re- 
solution was carried into effect in the spring 
of 1769, by removing to Lawunakhannek, (in 
English, Middle Branch, or Stream,) situated 
about fifteen miles to the south-west of the 



112 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

former place. When the missionaries, with 
Allemewi and the Indian converts, took their 
departure, the rest of the people looked on in 
silence, but no hand was lifted against them. 
During the whole scene of excitement and op- 
position Zeisberger had remained steadfast at 
his post, (though many plots were laid for mur- 
dering him,) confidently relying on the protec- 
tion of Him whom he served. Well may it be 
said of him and his fellow-labourers, that they 
" counted not their lives dear unto them, so 
that they might finish their course with joy, 
and the ministry which they had received of 
the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the 
grace of God." 

At Lawunakhannek a few hunting huts, and 
a little wooden chapel, were hastily erected. 
The people suffered for the want of suitable 
provisions, their old stock of Indian corn being 
spoiled, and half rotten : however, they ate it 
thankfully. The summer must pass away, and 
the harvest return, before they could obtain a 
better supply, as they could buy no corn 
throughout the whole country. If they did 
not abound in one way, they did in another. 
Their spiritual prosperity was great. Zeis- 
berger thus speaks of their success in the new 
settlement : — " In our new place of refuge we 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 113 

had the inexpressible pleasure to baptize seve- 
ral Indians. To us it was a festival without 
an equal, and attended with so powerful a sen- 
sation of the presence of God, that we were 
richly comforted for all our afflictions." Num- 
bers, indeed, of the people of Goschgoshing, 
even of those who had plotted their destruc- 
tion, who had never spared the captive, or 
known kindness or pity, came to lay their 
ferocity and savage hatred at the foot of the 
cross. These fierce men of the forest stood 
around Zeisberger, and said that his God should 
be their God, and that they would go with him 
wherever he went. 

Among the converts was an Indian stranger. 
He was carrying a barrel of rum to Goschgosh- 
ing for sale, and called at this place by the 
way. Having heard the gospel, he was so 
convinced of his sinfulness and misery, that 
he resolved to alter his course of life. He 
accordingly returned the barrel of rum to the 
trader at Pittsburg, declaring that he would 
neither drink nor sell any more spirituous 
liquors, for it was against his conscience. He, 
therefore, begged the person from whom he 
had purchased it to take it back, adding, that 
if he refused, he would pour it into the Ohio. 
The trader, as well as the other white people 

8 



114 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

who were present, was amazed, and assured 
him that this was the first barrel of mm he 
had ever seen returned by an Indian ; but at 
the same time he took it back without further 
objection. 

Another convert who joined the Indian con- 
gregation at Lawunakhannek was Glikhican. 
Glikhican was an Indian who enjoyed among 
his countrymen a distinguished reputation. 
His superior courage as a warrior, his talents 
in council, his unequalled eloquence, gave him 
vast influence, and rendered him an object 
both of admiration and dread. He was also 
first counsellor to the chief of the Wolf tribe, 
Pakanko, at Cascaski, on the Big Beaver. 
The circumstances connected with his conver- 
sion were quite striking. Glikhican, with the 
approbation of his chief and the council, came 
to Lawunakhannek for the purpose of a doctri- 
nal argument, with the intention of confounding 
the missionary. Armed, as he thought, at all 
points, and confident of success, the Indian 
orator, on his arrival at the village, went to 
hear Zeisberger preach. With that good sense 
which marked his character, instead of com- 
mencing the contest without first hearing for 
himself the doctrine of Zeisberger, he went 
again and again as a hearer, with the intention 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 115 

of detecting his errors of doctrine. Having 
attended for some time the ministry of Zeis- 
berger for this purpose, his own mind under- 
went a change. Being convinced of the truth 
of what he heard, and feeling the power of the 
precious word, he became an open advocate 
for the missionary and his doctrine, both at 
Lawunakhannek and upon his return home at 
Cascaski. 

To crown the whole, and to impart un- 
mingled joy to the missionaries, their most 
bitter and violent enemies at Goschgoshincr at 
length ceased their opposition ; many of them 
joined the Christian Indians ; and, finally, the 
council of the town, convinced of the disinte- 
restedness of the brethren, begged them to 
forget all that was past, and even adopted them 
as members of the Delaware nation ; so that, 
in case of war, they should not be treated as 
other white people, but be considered as na- 
tives of Delaware. Thus auspiciously closed 
the year of 1769, and opened that of 1770. 

In the course of the year 1770 occurred an- 
other removal ; and the scene was once more 
changed. Two causes led to this. One was 
a war which broke out between the Senecas 
and the Cherokees, in the very vicinity of the 
settlement. Another, and perhaps the chief 



116 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

cause, was the want of room at Lawunakhan- 
nek. The place chosen for the new Indian 
town was on the Big Beaver, about twenty 
miles from its mouth, the residence of Glik- 
hican. The brethren had been frequently and 
earnestly solicited to form a settlement here ; 
and now that the time seemed to have arrived 
to change their residence, they resolved to ac- 
cept the offer of the chiefs of Cascaski. Be- 
fore, however, the brethren began to make 
their arrangements to leave, they informed the 
chiefs of Goschgroshino- of their design, who 
made no objection, only entreating that they 
might part as friends. 

On the 17th day of April, 1770, all things 
being ready, they set out in sixteen canoes, 
passing down the Alleghany River to Pitts- 
burg ; and from thence down the Ohio (the 
Moravian hymn for the first time passing over 
the waters of this noble river) to Big Beaver. 
Proceeding up this river, they were delayed 
at the Falls, where they had to unload, and 
transport their goods and canoes by land. This 
labour was lightened by Glikhican, who met 
them at the Falls, with other Indians, to assist 
at this portage. After a journey of a fortnight 
they arrived at a place on this river which 
seemed exactly suited to their purpose, and 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 117 

here they began to erect a new settlement, to 
which they gave the appellation of Frieden- 
stadt, or " The Town of Peace." 

Friedenstadt soon became a flourishing vil- 
lage. Comfortable dwelling houses and a spa- 
cious chapel of squared timbers were built. 
The number of Christian Indians constantly 
increased, and all things indicated prosperity. 
Here they were free from the dangers and op- 
position to which they were exposed at Gosch- 
goshing. No midnight watch was now needed ; 
they were in safety and at peace. The work 
of the Lord also progressed, and the gospel 
became the power of God to the salvation of 
many of the Indians in that section of the 
country. The first person baptized at Frieden- 
stadt was the wife of the aged chief Allemewi, 
who was herself at one time bitterly opposed 
to her husband's joining the mission. Many 
also of the once dreaded people of Goschgosh- 
ing. from the love and veneration which they 
now entertained for Zeisberger, in spite of the 
distance, came to Friedenstadt to listen to his 
words. Many of them also cast in their lot 
with the people of God. Among others who 
joined the congregation, was one of the party 
who destroyed Gnadenhutten on the Mahony. 
This man was often so much affected in 



118 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

hearing the word, that he shed floods of tears. 
The most distinguished convert was Glikhican. 
He had from the time of his visit to Lawunak- 
hannek been under serious impressions, but at 
Friedenstadt he became a decided follower of 
Jesus Christ. This step of Glikhican's gave 
great offence to Pakanko, the chief, and at one 
time threatened seriously to obstruct the mis- 
sion ; but a singular message from a distant 
tribe to Pakanko and his nation, exhorting 
them to listen favourably to Christianity, had 
a happy influence in disarming opposition, and 
placing the mission on a firmer foundation than 
before.* Another convert, whose name ought 
to be mentioned, was no less a person than 
the heathen preacher Wangomend himself, at 
Goschgoshing their warmest and most active 
opposer. Of this heathen preacher it might 

* This message, with a black belt of wampum, sent 
from the great council at Still Water, (Indian name, 
Gekemukpechink,) was to this purport : — It represented, 
that as an epidemical disease had raged for some time 
among the Delawares, carrying off great numbers, and 
believed to have been brought on by the power of witch- 
craft, it was thought that by embracing Christianity the 
contagion might cease. It was, therefore, unanimously 
recommended that this method should be resorted to ; and 
they declared enemies to the nation any who should op- 
pose this measure. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 119 

be said, as of St. Paul, " He now preaches 
and promotes the faith he once laboured to 
destroy !" Thus Friedenstadt continued to 
flourish and increase. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Away in the forest, how fair to the sight, 
Was the clear placid lake, as it sparkled in light, 
And kiss'd with low murmur the green shady shore, 
Whence a tribe had departed, whose traces it bore ; 
Where the lone Indian hasten'd, and wond'ring, hush'd 
His awe, as he trod o'er their mould'ring dust. 

How bright were the waters — how cheerful the song 
Which the wood-bird was cheruping all the day long : 
And how welcome the refuge these solitudes gave 
To the pilgrims, who toil'd over mountain and wave. 
Here they rested — here gush'd forth, salvation to bring, 
The fount of the cross by the " Beautiful Spring." 

We must now return to Friedenshutten. For 
several years, from the time of its settlement in 
1765, this village continued to grow and enjoy 
peace, with but few and brief interruptions. At 
length troubles arose. The first real ground 
of alarm originated with the Iroquois, or the 
Six Nations. This powerful tribe had made a 
full and unconditional grant of the land on 



120 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

which Friedenshutten was built. Regardless 
of this act, they sold to the English this land, 
besides a large tract of the surrounding country. 
In this emergency the brethren sought redress 
and protection from the governor of Pennsyl- 
vania. He assured them that they should not 
be molested. The governor also added, that 
he had given orders to the surveyor-general 
not to suffer any lines to be run within five 
miles of their town. The governor's assurances 
in this instance did not avail much. The very 
land which the Indians had cleared with so 
much labour, and which was now in a fine 
state of improvement, was claimed by land spe- 
culators. Great confusion and difficulty arose 
from these claims ; and it soon became evident 
that the white people would give them no rest 
while they remained in their vicinity. 

While at Friedenshutten all was disturbance 
and confusion, Ziesberger, leaving the congre- 
gation at the Big Beaver for a while, came on a 
visit to Bethlehem. This was in the summer 
of 1771. On his return to the west, in com- 
pany with Heckewelder. who was appointed 
his assistant, he stopped at Friedenshutten. 
The propriety of relinquishing Friedenshutten, 
and removing to a more remote and quiet spot, 
was now considered ; and the unanimous con- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 121 

elusion was, that as the lands were sold, and 
the white people were growing more and more 
troublesome, so that there was no prospect 
of living there in peace, in the following 
spring they would remove to the west. The 
remainder of the time was spent in making the 
necessary preparations for their removal ; and 
in June of 1772, this favourite spot of the 
Christian Indians, where for seven years they 
had lived happily, was forsaken ; the tide of 
population, as it set in, ever driving the In- 
dians further and further into the wilderness. 
Rest seemed not to be the lot of these Chris- 
tian congregations. Scarcely did they begin 
to reap what they had sown before they were 
obliged to abandon their waving fields, their 
comfortable homes, and to begin anew their 
work. Patience had its perfect work. 

The spot fixed upon for a new settlement 
was on the Muskingum, about two hundred 
miles from its mouth, and about seventy from 
Lake Erie. The distance from Friedenstadt 
to this place, in a direct course by land, was 
about seventy-five miles. The tract assigned 
for the new village was very large ; and, with 
the ground, assurance was given that it would 
never be sold under their feet to the white 
people, as had been done by the Six Natiqris 



122 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

The land for the village was given to the bre- 
thren by Netawatwees, prince of the Dela- 
wares. The Delaware nation was divided into 
three tribes, with three principal chiefs, of 
which the Unami was esteemed the first in 
rank. The chief of the Unami was Neta- 
watmees. He was a man of strong mind and 
commanding character. By his judgment and 
address he had acquired the reverence of the 
whole nation. It was his custom to submit 
all affairs of state to his counsellors for their 
consideration, calmly and attentively listening 
to their sentiments before he disclosed his own. 
When they had given their opinion, he either 
approved of it, or else stated his objections and 
amendments, always showing why he differed 
from them. This prince was the most sincere 
and powerful of all Zeisberger's friends. * He 
was a shield and a buckler to him. It was 
owing to the friendship Netawatwees enter- 
tained for Zeisberger that the offer was given 
for the Christian Indians to settle on the Mus- 
kingum, near to the territory of the former. 

* Zeisberger first became acquainted with him in the 
spring of 1770. During a journey the missionary was 
received and lodged in this Indian prince's house, when 
he had suffered much in wading through tracts of deep 
snow. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 123 

Iii order to make some preparation for the 
arrival of the large Indian congregation from 
Friedenshutten, on the 14th of April, 1772, 
Zeisberger, with five Indian families, in all 
twenty-eight persons, left Friedenstadt, and 
reached the spot where the new village was to 
be built on the 3d of May. Zeisberger was 
pleased with the situation and with the pros- 
pect of usefulness. It was a place of many 
attractions : — a small lake, from which the 
river that ran through the plain took its source ; 
its shores were verdant ; there were good 
planting grounds, plenty of game, and every 
other convenience for a colony. Formerly a 
large fortified Indian town had stood on the 
spot ; and even now the ruins of ramparts and 
forts were visible. In the plain were nume- 
rous groups of walnut, locust, and other trees, 
with wild apple and plum trees. There was 
something peculiarly wild in the scene — the 
extensive ruins of the ancient Indians, partly 
shaded by trees, and near the water-side, gave 
an interest to the extreme loneliness. It seemed 
as if a people had once dwelt and flourished 
here, and either perished by an inroad of their 
enemies, or else wandered to another land. 
The former fate was the more probable, for 
the site was too advantageous to be willingly 



124 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

forsaken ; and the Indian might be seen pass- 
ing by, looking earnestly, yet with awe, at the 
ruins ; for they are averse to dwell amid the 
desolation of other homes. 

The name of Shoenbrun, or " The Beautiful 
Spring," was given to the new settlement. For 
the present, temporary cabins were built, and 
land cleared and planted ; Netawatwees send- 
ing many of his people to assist the mission- 
aries. This town, thus happily begun, proved 
to be the loveliest of all Zeisberger's settle- 
ments, and the one that lay nearest to his 
heart. 

We return once more to what was passing 
on the Susquehannah. The Iroquois, or Six 
Nations, finding that the Christian Indians 
were in earnest to leave the country, forget- 
ting, as it would seem, their own treachery in 
selling their land to the English, were much 
displeased. They first attempted to discourage 
the Christian Indians from going there, by 
insinuating that all the land in that country 
was stained with blood ; that even the rivers 
were of the colour of blood.* Next they at- 
tempted, by fair words and promises, to remove 

* Figurative expressions when speaking of a country in 
which bloody wars had been carried on. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 125 

from the minds of these Indians their former 
treachery toward them ; — they offered to unite 
with them, so that they would be as though 
they were but one body ; — they hoped f he little 
bird they had heard singing, had sung to no 
effect. When, however, after all their address, 
they found them resolved to go, they requested 
a continuance of the friendship and good-will 
of the Christian Indians, who in return asked 
the same favour of them. 

The time having now arrived for the Chris- 
tian Indian congregation to take their final 
leave of Friedenshutten on the Susquehannah, 
and to emigrate to the west, they assembled 
for the last time in their chapel, to offer up 
thanks and praises to the Lord for the many 
favours and blessings received from him in 
this place, and further to supplicate his peace 
and protection, not only during the journey, 
but at all times and in all situations. It must 
have been a most affecting scene. Frieden- 
shutten had always been a favourite spot to the 
Christian Indians. Its natural situation was 
also very advantageous ; and having now ex- 
pended seven years' labour in improving the 
town and the surrounding fields, the whole was 
in fine order. All was now left for the use of 



126 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

strangers ; and this too, according to Heckewel- 
der, without any recompense.* The Friends, 
who appear to have always entertained a pecu- 
liar regard for the Moravian brethren, with 
their usual generosity sent them one hundred 
dollars, as a mark of their friendship, which 
was received with gratitude. 

Having worshipped for the last time in the 
chapel, (a place endeared to them by repeated 
manifestations of the divine presence,) and all 
other necessary arrangements having been 
made, these Christian emigrants set out in the 
month of June on their long and fatiguing 
journey. The whole body of Indians, in- 
cluding the missionaries, was two hundred 
and forty-one persons. f They were divided 
into two parties ; one of which, under the 
direction of the missionary Ettwein, was to 
proceed by land ; the other, under the care of 
the missionary Rothe, by water. The land 
party set out first, having the charge of se- 
venty head of horned cattle, besides the horses 
for carrying the sick and the baggage. Those 

* It is stated by some writers, that the governor of 
Pennsylvania did afterward remunerate the brethren for 
their loss. 

t This included also the small settlement at Sheshe- 
quon. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 127 

who went by water carried the bulky and heavy 
articles, such as plough-irons, harrow-teeth, 
pick-axes, all kinds of farming utensils and 
tools, iron pots, and large brass kettles, for the 
boiling of maple sugar, &c. ; as also the pro- 
visions. 

The journey was very tedious and laborious, 
especially to those who went by land. They 
had a most difficult part to perform. They 
had to penetrate with their cattle through im- 
mense thickets and swamps ; to wade through 
rivers and brooks ; to cross hills and mount- 
ains, exposed to storms, to the bite of the rattle- 
snake, (these being in some particular places 
very numerous,) and still more to the bite of 
the sand-fly, a most tormenting insect.* Those 
who went by water had also their difficulties. 
Both parties were, however, well supplied 
with provisions, such as game and fish. After 
a journey of eight weeks, on the 5th of August 
the first division arrived at Friedenstadt, and 
the other a few days after them. Here they 
met with a most hearty welcome. 

After resting a short time from the fatigues 

* In one place these insects were so abundant as almost 
to resemble a fog in the air. The name given to the 
place was " Pouks Uteney," or " The Habitation of the 
Sand Fly." 



128 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

of their journey, the congregation from Frie- 
denshutten (with the exception of a few who 
remained at Friedenstadt to procure provisions 
for the winter) set out again for their home on 
the Muskingum ; at which place they arrived 
on the 23d of August. In a little while all 
were busy ; cheerfully employed in erecting 
houses, and preparing ground to plant the next 
season. When the rest of their number ar- 
rived there, they were advised to settle ten 
miles lower down the river. This they did ; 
buiding at this point of the river another town, 
which they called Gnadenhutten. Thus arose 
two new Christian Indian towns in the midst 
of the wilderness, — central spots of light, hap- 
piness, and love, — Shoenbrun, and another 
Gnadenhutten. 

But while peace and prosperity smiled upon 
the new villages, the good order and quiet 
which had heretofore existed at Friedenstadt 
began to be seriously interrupted. These diffi- 
culties arose from the neighbouring Indians, 
who, stirred up by rum, which they would 
bring in large quantities, and drink near the 
town, acted with the most frantic violence. 
The disturbances from this cause at length 
became so frequent, and exceedingly trouble- 
some, that the settlement had but little rest. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 129 

On one of these occasions an intoxicated In- 
dian rushed into the village, and hastened 
with wild speed to the house of the missionary 
Rothe, declaring he would kill him. Arriving 
at the house, he burst open the door, and en- 
tered " with all the fury of a wild beast." The 
missionary's wife, being extremely terrified, 
snatched up her child, and instantly fled ; but 
Rothe himself, who was confined to his bed 
by sickness, sat up and looked at him with the 
utmost composure. This checked him ; and 
the Indian brethren, hastening to the assist- 
ance of their teacher, seized and bound the 
infuriated Indian. Similar outrages occurring 
more and more frequently, at length led the 
brethren to leave Friedenstadt, and join the 
congregation on the Muskingum. 

In pursuance of this resolution, on the 13th 
of April, 1773, this handsome village w r as eva- 
cuated. One part of the congregation crossed 
the country by land ; the other in twenty-two 
canoes, loaded with baggage, Indian corn, &c, 
went by water. The route these took was 
down the Big Beaver to the Ohio ; thence 
down that river to the mouth of the Mus- 
kingum ; thence up the Muskingum, following 
its course, near two hundred miles, to Sho- 
enbrun. 

9 



130 SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 

Thus we see, but two years before the rup- 
ture between the colonies and Great Britain, 
that the principal Moravian settlements among 
the Indians were two in number, and both on 
the Muskingum. Remote from political ex- 
citement, protected by the prince of the Dela- 
ware nation, and at peace among themselves, 
Shoenbrun and Gnadenhutten increased con- 
tinually in population ; while the industry of 
the Christian Indians, in cleaving and tilling 
the soil, provided amply for all their wants. 
The spiritual prosperity also of these villages 
was highly encouraging ; while their admirable 
economy and internal discipline promoted the 
general industry, guarded against the introduc- 
tion of vice, and cherished, with the utmost 
solicitude, pure and undefiled religion in the 
hearts and lives of the Indian converts. Anions 
other things, education was strictly attended 
to ; the children of the Indians being very 
carefully instructed. The Bible was the guide 
of the Moravian brethren ; its rule of faith was 
their rule ; its code of morality their code ; 
and hence it was that village after village rose 
up in the wilderness, where men with changed 
and subdued hearts exhibited all the excel- 
lences of the Christian character. These mis- 
sionaries were too wise to exchange the simple, 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 131 

direct method of doing good, which the Bible 
prescribes, for any new inventions of specu- 
lative minds. Having a good and an effective 
rule to live and flourish by, they were con- 
tented with it ; and the fruits of their wisdom 
were as thrifty, peaceable, happy, and useful 
Christian communities as the sun ever shone 
upon. Let us in all this acknowledge the 
power of the gospel ; and determine to adhere 
still more and more closely to those rules and 
requirements which we find contained in that 
inestimable volume — the word of God. 

Such was the happy influence of practical 
Christianity on the Muskingum and the sur- 
rounding country through these two villages, 
Shoenbrun and Gnadenhutten, that the pros- 
pect bid fair toward the conversion of the De- 
laware nation. Great numbers of the Delaware 
Indians were almost daily arriving at one or 
other of the villages. Their curiosity was 
especially awakened at witnessing the indus- 
try of the Indians, especially their buildings 
and ploughed grounds. They were also very 
much surprised to see so many of their nation 
living happily together, and putting their hands 
to manual labour. To all who came to the 
villages the gospel was preached. Of these, 
many heard the word gladly, and joined the 



132 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS; 

congregation* Among this number was a cele* 
brated chief, named Echpalawahend, whose 
exemplary life, from the day of his conversion 
until his death, was a happy example for the 
imitation of others. Encouraged by the favour- 
able prospects which appeared opening before 
them, the Christian Indians resolved to build 
at each of the villages a new chapel. That at 
Shoenbrun was forty feet by thirty-six ; and 
that at Gnadenhutten somewhat smaller. Both 
were built of squared timbers, with shingle 
roofs, and a cupola and bell. The towns being 
regularly laid out, the streets wide and clean, 
and the cattle kept out by means of fences, 
gave the whole a neat appearance, and excited 
the astonishment of all visiters. 

During the year 1773 death deprived the 
brethren of one of their oldest and most es- 
teemed native assistants. The name of this 
venerable and distinguished man was Anthony. 
He was seventy-seven years of age, and had, 
from the day of his baptism, in 1749, until his 
death, lived as a true follower of Christ. Being 
well versed in Scripture, he was of great use, 
and a blessing to his nation, having been in- 
strumental in the conversion of many. For 
several years he had served as interpreter of 
the missionaries when divine service was per- 



SCENES IN' THE WILDERNESS. 133 

formed. On his death-bed he exhorted all who 
visited him to abide in faith, cheerfully saying 
that he would soon be with Jesus, his Re- 
deemer. " His memory," says Heckewelder, 
w r ho knew him well, " will remain precious 
with all who knew him." 

It was during the year 1773 that Zeisberger, 
ever active, never content with what he had 
accomplished, but always anxious to do more, 
paid a visit to the Shawanese at Wakatameki, 
where he was well received ; and hoped he 
would live to see this nation also embrace the 
gospel. 

In the year 1774 a war broke out between 
the people of Virginia and the Senecas and 
Shawanese Indians. The white people, says 
Heckewelder, it was well known were the 
aggressors in this war. A number of these 
white people were already settled on choice 
spots of land on the south side of the River 
Ohio ; while the Indians dwelt on the north 
side, then their territory. About this time also 
the sale of the lands below the Canhawa River 
had opened a wide field for speculation. The 
whole country on the Ohio River had attracted 
attention. Parties of white men from the neigh- 
bouring provinces were formed, who came to 
this, then remote, section of the country, either 



134 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

to purchase land on which to settle themselves, 
or else for purposes of speculation. Many 
murders were committed by these roving par- 
ties of white people ; some of whom seemed 
to think that it was the same to kill an Indian 
as a bear or a buffalo. Among those who were 
thus inhumanly killed were some of the family 
of the celebrated Logan. In consequence of 
these and similar atrocious acts on the part of 
the white people, the utmost excitement existed 
among the Indians against them ; and as the 
long-knife men [the Virginians] appear to have 
been prominent actors in these scenes, a war 
broke out between this colony and the In- 
dians ; which was terminated by the defeat 
of the Indians by the Virginians at or near the 
Great Canhawa. 

This war, though of short duration, was 
dreadful in its nature while it lasted. During 
its continuance the settlements scarcely en- 
joyed a single day of rest. As the savages 
were greatly inflamed against the white people 
generally, the missionaries themselves were 
often in danger of their lives. Numerous 
troops of warriors marched through the settle- 
ments, — some upon murdering expeditions ; 
others returning with scalps and prisoners, — 
often threatening that both places should soon 



M'KNES IN THE WILDERNESS. 135 

be surprised, and burned to the ground. Re- 
ports were circulated that the enemy were 
actually on their way to destroy the towns, 
and to murder the inhabitants. Canoes were 
always ready, as the congregation were fre- 
quently so terrified, even in the night, by 
frightful rumours, that all were on the point 
of taking flight. The women were repeatedly 
driven from their plantations at noon-day ; and 
all the people were confined to their habita- 
tions for days and even weeks together, as 
several parties appeared in the 'neighbourhood, 
with a view of seizing on stragglers. 

The joyful news of peace put an end to 
these fears and troubles ; and the Christian 
Indians set apart the 6th day of November, 
1774, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to 
the Lord for his gracious protection. 

After the war, the peace and rest enjoyed by 
the Indian congregations contributed greatly 
to their prosperity. The memorable year of 
1775 was peculiarly rich in all spiritual and 
temporal blessings. Numerous were the visit- 
ers which thronged to the settlements. Many 
of the warriors were impressed by the word, 
while some were baptized. Such was the 
increase to the congregation this year, that 
though the chapel at Shoenbrun held about 



136 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

live hundred people, it was too small for the 
number of hearers. Thus did the word of the 
Lord run, and thus was it glorified ; causing 
the wilderness to bud and blossom as the rose. 

About this time the following incident took 
place at Gnadenhutten : — An Indian on ac- 
count of his ill conduct was sent away from 
that place. This kindling his rage to a great 
pitch, he determined to revenge himself by 
the death of the missionary Schmick. Paint- 
ing himself black, and armed with a large 
knife, he went' to the house of the missionary. 
Not finding him at home he came away ; and 
his anger having partly subsided, he became 
sensible of his heinous wickedness, and soon 
after made a public acknowledgment of his 
guilt. He was now very anxious to return to 
the fold he had forsaken ; and it was not long 
before Schmick had the pleasure of baptizing 
his intended murderer. 

In the fall of this year death laid his hand 
gently upon two of their most valuable and ex- 
emplary assistants. One of these, Joshua, an 
Indian belonging to the Mohican tribe, was 
one of the oldest converts of the brethren, hav- 
ing been baptized in 1742. The other was 
John Papunhank, a Delaware. They were 
both of them wardens of their respective con- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 137 

gregations ; Papunhank at Shoenbrun ; Joshua 
at Gnadenhutten. 

The year 1775 closed in peace. The dis- 
putes which had arisen between Great Britain 
and her North American colonies had not yet 
disturbed the quiet, nor marred the spiritual 
prosperity of these remote and secluded Indian 
congregations. But a sad reverse was at hand : 
a cloud, still far off, in the distant sky, was 
slowly rising, which was soon to settle upon, 
and to becloud for ever the animating prospect. 
Ah, ill-fated Indian, how sad thy fate ! Ye 
devoted men of God, who sought these lost 
sheep, labouring to improve and elevate their 
present condition, and to fit them for another 
and a better world, how keen the anguish, 
how deep the grief, that was in store for you, 
in the scattering of your beloved flock, and the 
desolation of your happy and flourishing set- 
tlements ! 



138 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Loudly the pealing blasts of war 
Are sounding through our land, 

And dark and fearful deeds were wrought 
By many a warlike hand. 

Even here its dreaded notes are heard : — 

It seeks these mild abodes, 
To change them, by its ruthless touch. 

To dreary solitudes. 

As the villages of Shoenbrun and Gnaden- 
hutten were now in a highly prosperous condi- 
tion, (the number in the two villages, at the 
close of the year 1775, amounting to four hun- 
dred and fourteen persons,) a third mission 
settlement was planned. 

The place selected for the new town was 
within two miles of the Forks of the Mus- 
kingum, and about thirty from Gnadenhutten. 
In April, 1776, eight families, consisting in all 
of thirty-five persons, under their faithful leader, 
David Zeisberger, settled here, and gave the 
name of Lichtenau to the mission. It was a 
favourable situation, and religion flourished 
here in its real purity and power. Among 
those who joined the congregation at Lichte- 
nau was the son of Netawatwees, with his 
family. Another Indian, a man much esteemed 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 139 

by all who knew him, whether Indians or 
whites, and named by the white people Cap- 
tain Johnny, also joined, with his family, at 
the new village. In taking this step he re- 
signed his situation as an Indian chief. At 
the three settlements also schools for the chil- 
dren were regularly established. In these a 
new spelling-book, prepared by Zeisberger, 
was introduced. 

Zeisberger, always in front of the battle, 
took up his residence at Lichtenau. Among 
his frequent guests was Netawatwees. The 
missionary in return visited the home of this 
noble chieftain, where he was always kindly 
welcomed. Slowly, yet without ceasing, he 
sought to lead the mind of his friend to the 
love of Christianity. In their conversations, 
which were often prolonged to a late hour in 
the night, beside the dying embers of the fire, 
while the rest of the family were sleeping 
around, he mingled frequent allusions to the 
gospel of Christ, its truth, its dignity, its ever- 
lasting value. The host would pause at times, 
as if lost in thought. The conversion of his 
nephew made considerable impression on his 
mind, and he became yet more thoughtful about 
his own salvation. He related to Zeisberger, 
that he had been thirteen Sundays to Lich- 



140 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

tenau to hear the truth ; and that when he 
returned he had cut thirteen notches in the 
bark of the trees as he passed along ; so that 
whenever he went through the woods to hunt, 
or with his warriors, these notches met his 
eye at every turn ; and he frequently paused, 
and wept to think how often he had heard 
of his Redeemer without embracing his sal- 
vation. 

The year 1776 was the last of this chiefs 
life ; and there is reason to think, from the ac- 
count we have of his death, that the labours 
of Zeisberger were not in vain ; — that he did 
embrace this salvation. Calling his warriors 
and counsellors around him, he uttered his last 
will and testament, "that the Delawares should 
hear and believe the word of God, preached by 
the Moravians." He then called Zeisberger 
near to him, and entreated to hear more of the 
things of God. While the latter spoke with 
strong emotion, Netawatwees breathed his last. 

This loss was the heaviest calamity that 
could have befallen the mission. He was the 
ablest Indian chief of his time ; of great pru- 
dence as a ruler ; and, of late years, his good 
management had amazingly increased the re- 
putation of his people. He spared no pains 



■SES IN THE WILDERNESS. 141 

to conciliate the affections of all the neigh- 
bouring tribes. 

At his funeral, the vast assemblage of mourn- 
ers, and the love and respect in which they all 
held the deceased, made the scene solemn and 
impressive. The coffin was placed in the 
grave, and as the body, according to custom, 
was let down into it, and the grave filled with 
earth, the women set up a most dismal howl. 
It is deemed a shame to a man to weep; yet, in 
silence, and apart, many strove to hide their 
emotion. A tall post, neatly carved, on which 
his glorious deeds were portrayed, was erected 
at the head of the corpse. In the midst of the 
funeral throng, and among the foremost war- 
riors, walked Zeisberger, in his Delaware dress, 
but little distinguishable from the others, save 
that he wept bitterly. 

Another year rolled away in peace, while 
the settlements continued to increase. The 
sun of prosperity shone brightly upon them 
before it set for ever. Unequalled in loveli- 
ness, Shoenbrun and Lichtenau rose in their 
beauty like two young palm trees of the desert. 
House was added to house, and street to street. 
The chapels were larger than any the Chris- 
tian Indians had ever before built, and yet could 



142 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

not contain the people that flocked to hear the 
word of God. Embassies came also from other 
and distant tribes, declaring that they were 
ready to receive the gospel. 

Among the testimonies we have of the happy 
and permanent influence of the labours of the 
Moravian brethren among the Delaware In- 
dians, is that of Colonel George Morgan, (called 
by the Delawares Tamanend, the highest ho- 
nour they could confer,) of Princeton, New- 
Jersey. Colonel Morgan, in 1775, was ap- 
pointed by congress agent for the western In- 
dians ; and business with the chiefs and coun- 
cil of the Delaware nation calling him, about 
this time, into this region, he visited the three 
Christian Indian settlements on the Muskin- 
gum. He expressed his surprise and astonish- 
ment at the order, regularity, and industry 
which he observed in these villages ; at the 
same time wishing that all the Indians might 
be induced to follow their example. 

The war of the revolution now raged in all 
its violence. The difficulties and troubles in 
which the settlements were involved during 
this war resulted in the abandonment of Shoen- 
brun and Gnadenhutten, and the union of the 
three congregations at Lichtenau. Shoenbrun 
was relinquished in 1777; Gnadenhutten in 



SCENES IS THE WILDERNESS. 143 

1778. We must leave it to the reader to ima- 
gine the grief the Indians felt in leaving these 
towns, especially Shoenbrun, which was the 
largest and most beautiful town they had built. 
In the spring of 1779, however, the troubles 
which drove them forth once more (as if indeed 
they were never to enjoy rest for any length 
of time) having somewhat subsided, that part 
of the congregation which had lived at Gna- 
denhutten returned thither under the care of 
the missionary Edwards. On their return they 
found the village just as they had left it. 
Every house, hut, and stable, the fences, and 
the trees, all were found just as they were. 
The Shoenbrun congregation, instead of return- 
ing to their village, which had been destroyed 
by enemies during their absence, (with the 
exception of the chapel, which they had them- 
selves torn down when they forsook it,) built a 
new town, on a convenient spot, on the oppo- 
site side of the river. To these favourite places 
the Indians returned in good spirits, travelling 
by land and water. Thus, as a tree after a 
storm, did these villages once more lift up 
their heads, smiling in beauty ; the most plea- 
sant spots in the wilderness. For the space 
of two years the inhabitants of these settle- 
ments (Shoenbrun and Gnadenhutten) were 



144 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS- 

unmolested. They lived peaceably and con- 
tentedly together, building houses, clearing and 
improving their lands, and meeting daily for 
divine service. Not so with Lichtenau. The 
same season that the other congregations left 
this village to return to their own, it was an- 
noyed by the northern warriors ; and so trou- 
blesome did they at length become, that, leav- 
ing Lichtenau to its fate, on the morning of the 
3d of March, 1780, the whole congregation set 
out by land and water, and proceeding up the 
river about twenty miles, formed a new settle- 
ment within six miles of Gnadenhutten. The 
Indian brethren of the other two villages giving 
their assistance, a new village, with its neat 
and commodious church, was soon built. On 
the 22d of May the chapel was consecrated by 
Zeisberger : on the next day the holy sacra- 
ment was observed ; and the rite of baptism 
administered to some of the converts on the 
28th. It appeared indeed as if new life had 
been imparted to all the settlements. The new 
Indian town, which was also on the Muskin- 
gum, was called Salem. Lichtenau had been 
inhabited by the Christian Indians five years ; 
and, during the war, up to this time, had been 
the most quiet and secure settlement of the 
three. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 145 

The three settlements on the Muskingum, 
Salem, Gnadenhuttcn, and Shoenbrun, now for 
a while " had rest ;" enjoyed peace. But it 
was the last gleam of bright sunlight. Reli- 
gion at this time also flourished greatly ; and 
the missionaries forgot all their sorrows in the 
joy that this afforded them. The following 
testimonies of personal enjoyment, and Chris- 
tian experience, belong to this period. A mis- 
sionary proposed the question to an Indian bro- 
ther previous to the Lord's supper, " Tell me, 
how is your heart disposed at present ?" He 
replied, " You could not have asked me a more 
agreeable question : I am ready to answer it 
every day ; and if you were even to awake me 
at night, I should want no more to consider ; 
for our Saviour has given me such a heart, that 
I am as willing to lay my wants and deficien- 
cies open before my brethren, as to describe 
the happiness I enjoy." 

Another of the newly baptized Indians said 
to his mother and friends, " You are, perhaps, 
of opinion that there is nothing real in the 
great gospel of Christ and his atonement, and 
that we only talk of it. I also thought so for- 
merly, and made it a laughing-stock. But now 
I can inform you, by experience, that it is great 
and marvellous, and that the power of God 
10 



146 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

seizes and melts my heart when I hear what 
our Saviour has done and suffered for us, and 
how much it cost him to deliver us, lost and 
undone human creatures, from the power of 
Satan." 

Some strange Indians, hearing that miracles 
were wrought at Lichtenau, went thither ; when 
the brethren declared that God, the Creator of 
all things, was manifest in the flesh to save 
sinners ; that he did now save them, even 
there, and that his love to men was above all 
comprehension ; so that, in eternity, the re- 
deemed will never cease to marvel at the won- 
ders of his grace. The heathen heard this 
with great attention ; and as Isaac Glikkikan, 
one of these witnesses of the truth, was about 
to retire to rest, at midnight, one of them, his 
former companion, stopped him, saying, " We 
used formerly to spend many a night in feast- 
ing and drinking, and never felt disposed to 
sleep. Let us, for once, pass a night in con- 
sidering this great subject, and speak fully 
about it." To this proposal Isaac gladly con- 
sented, and the night was passed in conversa- 
tion on the person and work of Christ. 

A Shawanese said, on another occasion, 
" When I first came hither, I heard you speak 
so much of the wretchedness and depravity of 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 147 

the human heart, I thought, ■ Well said, — God 
grant the believing Indians may begin to mend 
their lives ; for they seem to be very bad 
people. I am not so wicked, and commit no 
sins, but please my God. I have also always en- 
deavoured to serve him, and sacrificed enough.' 
But lately I was convinced, at your chapel, 
that I am a very sinful man, and that it is 
exactly in my heart as in that old basket ;" 
pointing to a basket full of rubbish which stood 
in the room. " The more I formerly felt my 
pride and self-complacency, the more I am 
now humbled, so that I can hardly venture to 
look at a believer ; and I desire most fervently 
that our merciful Saviour would have pity on 
me, and forgive my sins." Some time after 
he was baptized, when he was so overcome 
with gratitude, that he said, " My eyes are all 
day filled with tears of joy ; and whenever I 
awake at night, my first thought is, that our 
Saviour was tormented and slain for my sins. 
Therefore, he shall possess my whole heart ; 
yea, and even the smallest bone in my body." 

During this auspicious period the settle- 
ments were but little incommoded by the hor- 
rors of war. All that they had to remind them 
of the war which then raged, was warriors oc- 
casionally passing through their town. One 



148 SCENES IN TJiE WILDERNESS. 

short, happy year passed away. In the year 
1781, without the least previous knowledge on 
the part of the missionaries, their trials and cala- 
mities came on like a torrent. The cause was 
as follows : — 

The English governor at Fort Detroit having 
formed an unfavourable idea of the mission- 
aries, whom he considered as spies, carrying on 
a correspondence with the" Americans, applied 
to several of the Indian tribes to carry off both 
them and their congregations. This proposal 
having been rejected in a variety of quarters, 
he at length applied to the half-king of the Hu- 
rons, (Wyandots,) who, at the instigation of 
Captain Pipe, one of the Delaware chiefs, con- 
sented to make the attempt. It is but just, 
however, of the English governor to say, that 
he had been imposed upon by the representa- 
tions of three individuals, well known to be 
great enemies to the missions, named M'Kee, 
Elliot, and Simon Girty. These men had, in 
a variety of ways, before this time, with inve- 
terate and persevering malice, attempted to 
break up the settlements, and had even plotted 
to murder the missionaries. At one time Girty 
conducted a murdering party, for the purpose 
of taking Zeisberger prisoner, or bringing back 
his scalp. Not succeeding in any of their 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 149 

attempts, they at length infused suspicion, as 
we have seen, into the breast of the English 
commandant, Arent Schyler de Peyster, then 
governor both of Detroit and of its dependen- 
cies ; and thus finally succeeded in their nefa- 
rious design. 

The destruction of the three settlements 
having been determined upon, and an agent 
found in the half-king of the Hurons to carry 
the contemplated plan into effect, invitations 
were sent to the warriors residing in different 
parts of the country, and near Detroit, to meet 
at a certain time at Sandusky to a great war 
feast. Having accordingly assembled at the 
place, and at the time appointed, M'Kee and 
his associates, Elliot and Girty, furnished them 
with a large ox, which was roasted entire, and 
then feasted on by the whole assembled party, 
consisting in all of about three hundred war- 
riors. During the feast they danced and sung ; 
each warrior, also, in turn related his exploits. 
As a proof of their alliance with the British, 
and to show that they acted under their direc- 
tion, and with their sanction, the flag of Eng- 
land was hoisted and waved near them. After 
the feast was over, and dance and song ended, 
ammunition and other articles were distributed 
among the warriors by Elliot. The Indians 



150 SCENES IN TUT. WILDERNESS. 

then formed themselves into companies, and 
began their march. None, however, knew the 
object of the expedition except those who were 
in the secret. 

The plot to destroy these peaceful settle- 
ments was arranged with so much silence and 
secrecy, that the missionaries knew nothing of 
it until the warriors were at their very doors. 
Great then was the alarm and the surprise at 
Salem, when, on the afternoon of the 10th of 
August, the half-king of the Hurons, with one 
hundred and forty armed men, and with British 
colours flying, appeared before it. The Indian 
warriors immediately formed a large camp, the 
colours being set in the centre, where Elliot, 
with the half-king, and M'Cormick, the flag- 
bearer, had their tents fixed. 

At this time the well-known missionary, 
Heckewelder, whose narrative of these events 
we now chiefly follow, and who was himself 
an actor in the scenes he relates, was at 
Salem. Heckewelder says that Elliot came to 
his house " to see (as he expressed himself) 
how we all did." From the interview Hecke- 
welder obtained no satisfactory information. 
The missionary asked Elliot what the war- 
riors intended. He replied, " that the half- 
king had something to say to the Christian 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 151 

Indians, but what it was he could not tell." 
Upon the missionary's saying to him, that as 
the men were armed, and provided with co- 
lours, he suspected that they were on a hos- 
tile expedition, Elliot replied, that " the Indians 
never go from home without taking their arms 
with them." Heckewelder then politely asked 
him, if he, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. M'Cormick, 
could make it convenient to take a cup of tea 
with him that evening. To this he said, that 
" it would entirely depend on the pleasure 
of the half-king, without whose permission 
neither himself nor M'Cormick durst leave 
the camp ; and although he thought he might 
for himself obtain this permission, yet, as 
M'Cormick had charge of the colours, he 
would have to be at his post until relieved by 
him ; after which he also might be permitted 
to call and see the missionary." 

About this time Isaac Glichican, the national 
assistant, who at the first arrival of the Indians 
had repaired to their camp, returned, bringing 
back word that the half-king requested an audi- 
ence at the house of the missionary Heckewel- 
der, as he had something to say to the chief 
men of the place. The half-king arriving soon 
after at the house of Heckewelder, and having 
passed the usual salutations, addressed himself 



152 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

to the missionary and the national assistants : — 
" Father, and you my cousins ! I am come to 
see you, and to say something to you ; and, as 
what I have to say interests all my cousins at 
the three towns, I wish you to appoint a 
place where you can all conveniently come 
to hear me. Fear no harm, my cousins ; I 
respect you." 

Gnadenhutten, accordingly, lying as it did 
in the centre, was fixed upon as the place of 
meeting ; and the half-king returned to his 
quarters. After this, Elliot being out of the 
way, M'Cormick called upon the missionary 
Heckewelder. M'Cormick, who, it seems, 
against his will had been compelled to join 
the party, at once disclosed the object of the 
expedition. What he said in substance was 
this : — That had it not been for the individuals 
we have mentioned, the settlements would not 
have been molested : that all the Indians re- 
spected the missionaries, and admired their 
excellent regulations : all united in saying that 
they were a good, peaceable, and hospitable 
people : neither would the commandant at De- 
troit have disturbed them, had it not been for 
Elliot, who was at the head of the plot, and 
M'Kee and Girty. As to Elliot, it was ob- 
served, nothing would serve him but the com- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 153 

plete destruction of the settlements. Having 
received this really alarming intelligence, 
Heckewelder wished to know if he might 
divulge it by letter to the senior missionary, 
Zeisberger. To this M'Cormick replied, " Yes ; 
but between you two it must be kept a secret ; 
for should it be divulged they would shoot me." 

So the sad scene opened. M'Cormick re- 
turned to the camp of the Indians ; and in the 
evening Elliot came to sup with the mission- 
ary and his wife. He acted, says Hecke- 
welder, the complete hypocrite ; speaking of 
old acquaintance ; of services rendered him at 
different times, both in health and sickness, 
prior to the war. He admired the order and 
industry of the Christian Indians. He said 
that he believed if the peace had continued, 
nearly the whole of the Delaware nation would 
have attached themselves to the settlements of 
the brethren. And, to complete the whole, he 
presented the child of the missionary with va- 
rious articles of clothingf. 

In the present juncture the first thing that 
Heckewelder did was to communicate what 
had taken place that day to Zeisberger, who 
was at Shoenbrun, which was distant from 
Salem about fifteen miles. Zeisberger, in his 
answer, which he returned immediately, exhi- 



154 SCENES IN' THE WILDERNESS. 

bited the same calm intrepidity that ever dis- 
tinguished this noble man. The night passed 
away in peace. The warriors, well supplied 
with provisions, caused not the least disturb- 
ance through the night. The next morning, at 
ten o'clock, they broke up their camp. The 
whole body of warriors passed through the 
town, on their way to Gnadenhutten, in two 
divisions ; the first on foot, and the other on 
horseback ; Elliot and the half-king being in the 
centre, with the British colours flying. 

Gnadenhutten next became the chief place 
of action. The warriors having arrived in the 
vicinity of this peaceful settlement, a whole 
week elapsed, in which the greater part of 
them did little else except eat, drink, and 
sleep. The chiefs, however, sat daily in coun- 
cil, deliberating on the best manner of carrying 
their designs into execution. At length, on the 
20th of August, the half-king made known that, 
on the next day, he wished to see the principal 
men of the three towns, that they might hear 
what he had to say to them. At the time ap- 
pointed, the missionaries being assembled, the 
half-king, in a formal speech,* proposed that 

* The speech delivered on this occasion was as fol- 
lows : — " That he, for a long time, had been much con- 
cerned on account of his cousins, the believing Indians, 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 155 

they should abandon their present settlements, 
and that he would lead them to another and a 
safer residence. This proposal was, on the 
part of the Christian Indians, courteously but 
firmly declined. With this answer not only 
the half-king, but the greater part of the war- 
riors, appeared to be perfectly satisfied ; de- 
claring that it would be wrong to compel their 

as they lived in a very dangerous place ! That they were 
sitting between two powerful, angry gods, [meaning the 
English and American armies,] who, with their mouths 
wide open, were most ferociously looking at each other : 
that this being the case, they were in danger of being 
attacked and devoured ; nay, even ground to powder by 
the teeth of one or other of them, or perhaps by both at 
the same time. It, therefore, was not advisable for them 
to remain longer where they now were ; and he called on 
them to reflect on their situation, and the means to save 
their lives, and those of their women and children, who 
must all perish if they remained here longer. That he 
now took his cousins by the hand to lead them to a place 
of safety ; and advised them not to stand gazing at their 
crops in the fields, their houses, and other property ; but 
rise, take their teachers, and he would lead them to a 
place where they might worship their God as they were 
accustomed to do. That they would find plenty of pro- 
visions where he would take them to ; and, besides this, 
their father at Detroit would also provide for them. He 
added, that he had purposely come here to deliver this 
message to his cousins for their consideration." (Here 
he handed a string of wampum to them.) 



156 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

cousins, friends, and relations, to move from a 
favourite spot, where they had in abundance 
every thing they could wish for, and where 
they lived so contented and happy. And, what 
is still more striking in the conduct of the 
greater part of the Indian warriors at this 
crisis, showing that even Elliot himself was 
not viewed very favourably by them, they dis- 
charged their pieces at the British colours as 
they were flying in the breeze, and would have 
shot them to rags had they not been prevented. 
Finding this to be a favourable opportunity to 
leave the Indians, Mr. M'Cormick did so, and 
took the colours with him. 

At a change in the feelings and conduct of 
the Indian warriors, so unexpected, Elliot was 
deeply mortified, but not discouraged. He 
strongly urged the half-king to adopt more 
severe measures. Another week of delay 
and consultation passed away ; at the close of 
which the half-king used much stronger lan- 
guage than at first ; in a great degree insisting 
upon the brethren's abandoning their settle- 
ments. To this speech the Christian Indians 
again remonstrated : they said " that such a 
scheme bore too hard upon them ; as to go at 
the present time would reduce them to misery : 
that they had a large harvest out, some thou- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 157 

sand bushels of corn, besides vegetables of va- 
rious kinds, which would be all lost to them. 
They also urged that it appeared to them un- 
generous to deprive their women and children, 
with themselves, of the necessaries of life, 
when they saw no occasion for it." To all this 
the half-king listened in silence. 

It was supposed that at this time the half- 
king, had he acted according to his own incli- 
nations, would have withdrawn from the enter- 
prise. Elliot perceiving this, and lest his 
scheme should, after all, fail, awakened the 
fears of the Indians by pretending that an 
armed force from Virginia would fall upon 
them before they were aware of it. This hint 
set the rabble at work, who began to commit 
outrages, by shooting fowls, hogs, and even 
horned cattle, as they were passing by, or 
feeding within their reach. This step seemed 
to open the way for greater outrages. Accord- 
ingly, on September 2d, another, and a final 
consultation was held, in which the half-king 
and his warriors determined to resort to violent 
measures to carry their design into execution. 
Before they took this final step, the half-king 
brought the national assistants before him in 
council, and asked them to give him a prompt 
answer, " whether they would go with him." 



158 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS 

To this the same reply was given as before. 
Thus the negotiation closed. During the 
greater part of that night the chiefs sat close 
in secret council. 

The following morning, September 3d, at 
eight o'clock, the congregation met as usual 
for divine service. Zeisberger preached. The 
discourse produced a great impression. At the 
conclusion of his sermon Zeisberger thus refer- 
red to their present situation : — " We are now, 
my brethren and sisters, placed in a situation 
hitherto unparalleled ! Surrounded by a body 
of heathen ! some enemies to the gospel, who 
threaten us with taking our lives, if we do not 
go with them, and make them our near neigh- 
bours ! Not being at liberty to act for our- 
selves, we must submit to our fate, and trust 
that the Lord will still hold his hand over us, 
and not forsake us ! We will remain quiet, 
and abide the consequences ; it not becoming 
children of God to put themselves on a le- 
vel with the heathen, in making use of wea- 
pons for our defence ! Neither will we hate 
our enemies on this account, who know not 
what they are doing ! We, as Christians, will 
pray for them, that the Lord may open their 
eyes, and turn their hearts from all evil ways ; 
— perhaps we may yet have the pleasure of 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 159 

seeing some of those, who are now our ene- 
mies, repent, and join themselves to our flock." 
On the afternoon of this day, shortly after 
they had dined, Zeisberger, Senseman, and 
Heckewelder, walked behind the garden, to- 
ward the burying-ground. While standing in 
the garden, looking wistfully at the town, and 
perhaps mournfully contemplating its probable 
desolation, one of the Indian chiefs, the head 
captain of the Monseys, came up to the mis- 
sionaries in great haste, and accosted Zeis- 
berger in these words : " Wilt thou devote 
thyself solely to the service of the Monseys as 
their teacher ?" As soon as one of the mis- 
sionaries replied to this, that as they composed 
one family, they could not separate, the Mon- 
sey chief stepped a few paces back, as a signal 
for three W^yandots, who were concealed be- 
hind the fence. These in an instant rushed 
upon the missionaries, each man taking his 
prisoner, and immediately marched them to- 
ward the camp. On their way to the camp, 
another Indian, a Wyandot, running up for the 
purpose, aimed several blows with his toma- 
hawk at the head of Senseman, who, springing 
out of his reach, avoided the fatal blow. The 
missionaries were taken to Elliot's camp in the 
centre, as though they were his prisoners. 



160 SCEN T ES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

Upon reaching Elliot's camp three scalp yells 
were sounded. From Elliot's camp, after re- 
maining there a short time, very much to the 
confusion of Elliot, (for chief actor as he was in 
all these unrighteous proceedings, he wished 
to maintain the garb of a friend of the mission- 
aries, and to be so esteemed by them,) the 
missionaries were taken to the line in the cen- 
tre, which divided the Wyandot and Delaware 
camps from each other, and the scalp yell was 
again sounded, the Indian warriors sounding 
each a yell for the man he had taken prisoner. 
These good men were now wholly in the power 
of the Indians, who, being roused by the yells, 
were up in an instant, with their arms in their 
hands, ready to fire upon their prisoners as 
soon as orders should be given for that purpose. 
No orders, however, of this nature were given ; 
and after standing awhile surrounded by the In- 
dians, several Wyandots came up, and stripped 
the missionaries of their best clothes, took their 
watches, buckles, sleeve buttons, &c. After 
this, a dark-looking Mousey came up, and 
taking each missionary by the hair of the head, 
and shaking him with all his force, said, " Qua- 
wangomel ninat !" which is, " I salute thee, 
my brother !" He then turned to Heckewelder, 
and began to strip him of his shirt, saying, 



SCENES IN THi; WILDERNESS. 161 

,l Friend ! I am much in want of a shirt, and 
must have yours !" But before this was done, 
a Delaware of note belonging to the party, 
seeing what he was about, ran up, and pushing 
him away with force, said, " Coward, begone ! 
What harm have these people done you ? You 
are always foremost where there is no dan- 
ger !" 

This for the present put an end to personal 
ill-treatment ; Zeisberger and Heckewelder be- 
ing shortly after taken into custody by Kuku, 
the Wyandot war chief from Lower Sandusky, 
while Senseman fell into the power of the no- 
torious war captain of the same nation, named 
Snip. They were placed in huts, with roofs 
of bark placed on poles to keep the rain off 
from above, the sides and ends being open. 
While confined here they heard the word 
given for a body of warriors, (which consisted 
of thirty armed Wyandots,) under the com- 
mand of the war chief Kuku, to set out for 
Salem, where were Hecke welder's wife and 
child, and another missionary by the name 
of Young. 

At length night came on, overcast with 
clouds, and at intervals a little rain. During 
the night the good Indian sisters of Gnaden- 
hutten brought food and blankets. But while 

11 



162 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

their immediate wants were provided for, the 
minds of the missionaries were ill at ease. 
Heckewelder's thoughts were upon his wife 
and child at Salem, not knowing what might 
befall these dear objects of his affection. The 
night was unusually calm and close ; and as 
Gnadenhutten was situated on a high bluff on 
the Muskingum, and the village of Salem but 
five or six miles distant, the scalp yell of the 
party which had proceeded there was distinctly 
heard when they reached that place. This 
yell, whenever sounded at Salem, or at any 
point between the villages, which was fre- 
quently done during the night, was returned 
by a piercing peal from the Indians at Gna- 
denhutten. In this way a sort of intelligence 
was kept up between the two parties during 
the night. As the party which had gone to 
Salem was on its return, the missionaries were 
able to tell in their huts, from the number of 
the yells, the number of the prisoners taken. 
Thus they knew that three had fallen into 
their hands, but whether they were alive, or 
had been murdered by them, they could not 
tell, as this scalp yell merely signifies the 
number of persons taken, not whether they are 
dead or alive. About the middle of this memo- 
rable night the Wyandot warrior party who 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 163 

had gone to Salem returned to Gnadenhutten, 
and the missionary Young was placed in the 
same hut with Zeisberger and Heckewelder. 
This brother, upon joining his fellow-prisoners, 
said, " Good evening, my brethren ! our earthly 
career appears to be near its end, and we on 
the borders of eternity ! Well, if they put us 
to death, we die in a good cause !" Hecke- 
welder now also was relieved from the deep 
anxiety he felt for his wife and child, being 
informed that they were safe ; that they had 
been placed in the care of the Indian sisters 
for the night, who would bring them next day 
to Gnadenhutten. From the missionary Young, 
Heckewelder also learned, that when the Indians 
arrived at Salem they made directly for his house, 
the door of which was at once bolted by Young ; 
that upon being refused admittance, they broke 
it open with their war hatchets ; that, as they 
entered, in their rage one man aimed a blow 
with his tomahawk at brother Young's head ; 
which stroke, however, was happily prevented 
by Kuhn, the chief, who, at the instant, run- 
ning his arm under the shaft of the hatchet, 
pushed it out of the direction in which it was 
aimed. The Indians then took the missionary, 
with the wife and child of Heckewelder, placed 
them in the street, and set guards over them, 



164 .SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

while they plundered the house ; emptying the 
feathers out of the beds, and the coffee which 
they found in a bag, all into the street, in order 
to get the ticks and bag for other uses. 

During this long and dreadful night, while 
the missionaries were lying upon the bare sod, 
with their eyes steadfastly fixed on the east, 
they heard far off, in the direction of Shoen- 
brun, another scalp yell, which gave note of 
an assault upon that settlement. At Shoen- 
brun were the wives of Zeisberger and Sense- 
man, with the missionary Youngman and his 
wife. As the war party drew nearer from this 
village, the greater was the commotion through- 
out the warriors' encampment. Yell after yell 
was quickly and loudly answered ; and it was 
now thought, when all were brought together, 
the scene would be closed by the massacre of 
the whole. Many of the savages the mission- 
aries well knew expected this ; yet, under all 
their trials, were they all wholly resigned to 
the will of the Lord. They had built their 
hopes higher than earth ; their chief treasure 
was in heaven ; their hope was full of a glo- 
rious immortality ; and they were assured that 
death in any form would be the gate to them 
of endless joys. O blessed religion ! which 
connects heaven with earth ; death with life ; 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 165 

the gloomiest lot on earth with the brightest 
anticipations of future glory and endless bless- 
edness ! 

At length, after repeated scalp yells, the 
party of Indian warriors from Shoenbrun ar- 
rived by water with the missionary Youngman 
and his wife, and also the wives of Zeisberger 
and Senseman ; the latter bringing with her a 
young babe, only four days old. Upon the 
arrival of the party, as a token of welcome, 
the scalp yell rent the air ten times in suc- 
cession, a yell for each prisoner now in their 
hands, including the two children. The mis- 
sionaries being now prisoners, it was soon 
ascertained that no alternative w r as left for 
them but to proceed to Sandusky, where they 
might establish a new settlement. To pre- 
pare for this change Heckewelder went to 
Salem. On his arrival every soul belonging 
to the village ran to bid him welcome, many 
weeping ; and the little children clung to him 
as though they would not let him go again. 
The sisters soon brought food, tea, coffee, &c, 
each striving to excel the other in acts of 
kindness. It was a hard task to the mission- 
ary to tell the sad story. One of them, by the 
name of Samuel Moore, a national assistant, 
had only that day finished shingling his new 



166 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

spacious dwelling house, built of squared tim- 
bers. The missionary's house and garden made 
a very gloomy appearance, the warriors having 
destroyed every thing they could lay their hands 
on, both in the house and garden. 

On September 8th, 1781, the missionaries, 
with their families, and also a number of Chris- 
tian Indians from Gnadenhutten and Shoen- 
brun, arrived at Salem ; part coming by land 
with the cattle, and others by water with bag- 
gage and provisions. The next day, leaving 
their pleasant homes once more behind them, 
as if they were never to enjoy a quiet resting 
place, the rest of the brethren and sisters, from 
both of the villages on the Muskingum, reached 
in their turn Salem, which was appointed as 
the general place of meeting, and as the place 
from whence they were to set out for San- 
dusky. While the three congregations, once 
more all assembled together, remained at Sa- 
lem, the gospel was again preached publicly ; 
a catechuman was baptized ; the holy sacra- 
ment administered. During the ministration 
of the sacrament a most extraordinary sensa- 
tion of the presence of the Lord comforted 
their troubled hearts. God was found to be 
a very present help in trouble, as he has in- 
deed been found in all ages, and under all 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 167 

circumstances, by those who wholly trust in 
him. All were exhorted to stand firm, and to 
show their faithfulness in the hour of trial and 
temptation. 

Up to this time the Delaware Indians, under 
Captain Pipe, had conducted themselves in an 
orderly, becoming manner. Many of them 
had daily attended divine service ; but on the 
10th of the month the half-king, with his host 
of plunderers, arrived, and the scene at once 
changed. The half-king showing the example, 
himself and party ran through the village like 
madmen, yelling and shrieking, throwing down 
the fences of the corn field, turning their horses 
in, killing hogs, poultry, &c. " In short," says 
Hecke welder, " they did every thing that they 
thought would injure the inhabitants." In this 
disordered state of things the missionaries 
deemed it best to commence their sorrowful 
journey ; and every thing being now ready, 
on the 11th day of the month this persecuted 
band of Christian emigrants turned their backs 
upon their loved homes, to return to them no 
more. It was a mournful hour. Never did 
the Christian Indians leave a country with 
more regret ; never did they leave more beau- 
tiful settlements. The bare pecuniary loss was 
also great. They had to leave many of their 



168 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

young cattle that were running loose in the 
woods, with some hundred head of hogs, and 
at least three hundred acres of ripe corn, be- 
sides a great quantity of old corn, potatoes, 
turnips, cabbages, &c. The Indians burned 
also some valuable books which had been pre- 
pared for the instruction of youth. Here was 
a trial both of faith and patience ; of love and 
hope. But the Christian religion never shines 
forth with brighter lustre, nor is the sensible 
support it imparts more truly felt, than in the 
time of deep distress. Where human aid is 
feeblest, divine support and consolation give 
strength to weakness, and the balm of sweet 
solace to the mourning disconsolate soul. Thus 
was it now ; and hope, like a gleam of sun- 
shine, encouraged these children of the Most 
High to believe that the Lord would be with 
them, and afford them strength and fortitude to 
overcome all difficulties and dangers. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 169 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Alas, alas ! for treachery ! the boasting white men 

came 
With weapons of destruction, — the sword and lurid 

flame ; 
And while the poor defenceless ones together bow'd in 

prayer, 
Unpitying they smote them while kneeling meekly 

there. 

The cry of slaughter'd innocence went loudly up to 
heaven : 

And can ye hope, ye murdering bands, ever to be for- 
given 1 

We know not ; — yet we ween for you the latest lin- 
gering prayer 

That trembled on your victims' lips, was, " God, for- 
give, and spare !" 

The missionaries, with their attached con- 
verts, whom no trials could separate from their 
beloved teachers, travelled as usual both by- 
land and water ; one division going by land 
with the cattle, and the other by water — the 
Indians having upward of twenty canoes loaded 
with provisions, and various other necessary 
articles. Arriving at Goschgoshing (Forks of 
the Muskingum) on the third day, a halt was 
ordered, to hunt a tame buffalo cow, belonging 
to one of the party, and which was supposed 



170 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

to be in the woods, feeding with other tame 
horned cattle. The hunters had scarcely been 
gone half an hour in pursuit of the buffalo, 
when it was seen coming down to the opposite 
side of the river to drink. It was quickly shot, 
and the meat divided. At this place Elliot, 
who had accompanied the congregation thus 
far on their journey, left them, proceeding with 
his attendant to Sciota, with the intention of 
meeting one of his associates, Captain M'Kee, 
who was waiting there to learn of him the par- 
ticulars of the expedition. There was much 
joy throughout the congregation when Elliot 
left them. 

The course of the party was now up Wal- 
handing River, or, as it is also called, the 
White Woman's Creek. But the river being 
at this season low, and in some narrow places 
obstructed by drift wood, caused them to move 
very slowly, making short journeys each day. 
On the night of the 19th they experienced a 
most tremendous storm, accompanied by dread- 
ful peals of thunder ; — the flashes of lightning 
so vivid the while, that the whole horizon 
appeared in a blaze. It came on with such 
rapidity that there was scarcely time to escape 
the falling trees. "Never, perhaps," says 
Heckewelder, " were men on land in a more 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 171 

dangerous situation from a thunder storm than 
we were at this time." The rain, falling in 
torrents, overflowed the camp ; so that all, 
even the women with babes in their arms, had 
to stand in the water until it flowed off. The 
fires in ths camp were all either put out by the 
rain, or washed away by the current. The 
storm subsiding, new fires were quickly kin- 
dled by the Indians. Dismal was the prospect 
in the morning ; large trees having been torn 
up by the roots, lying prostrate in all directions. 
Two of the best canoes, one of them remark- 
ably large, and heavy loaded, but both filled 
with valuable articles, were crushed by large 
trees falling upon them, and every article lost. 
The loss was severely felt; yet were they very 
thankful that no lives were lost. 

The congregation were now joined by the 
half-king, who had tarried behind at Salem, 
searching for hidden property. The morning 
after the storm he gave orders to lie by for the 
day to dry the clothes and baggage ; and al- 
though they had not much to dry, yet the mis- 
sionaries were glad of a little rest. Continuing 
their journey for a number of days after the 
manner they had done, they arrived at Gook- 
hosing, (habitation of owls,) where they left 
the river, travelling altogether by land across 



172 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

the country, for Upper Sandusky. The Wyan- 
dots had become impatient to get home, and 
for that purpose would, in a manner, drive the 
missionaries before them, whipping the horses 
of the riders so, that the wife of Zeisberger 
was twice thrown from the horse ^he rode. 
They suffered much with fatigue and ill-treat- 
ment during the day, and had to pass the night 
in the midst of a body of savages, separated 
from their Indian brethren, who, having heavy 
packs to carry, as well as their cattle to take 
care of, were unable to keep up with them. 

On the 11 th of October they arrived at the 
old Upper Sandusky town, situated on the east 
side of the river of that name. Here the half- 
king and his party left them, having accom- 
plished his object of breaking up the pleasant 
settlements of the brethren, and bringing the 
missionaries and their congregation into so de- 
solate a region. The homes of the half-king 
and his party were about ten miles from this 
place ; whither they went heavy loaded with 
plunder. The missionaries were left at this 
late season of the year to make the best ar- 
rangements in their power for their comfort 
and support. 

The country around was dreary and barren ; 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 173 

and the brethren were at a loss to conceive how 
the cattle and horses they had brought with 
them, amounting to nearly two hundred, were 
to be supported during a long winter, which had 
already set in. Gloomy in every way was the 
prospect before them. But the rapid approach 
of winter warned them to lose no time ; and, 
with their usual diligence, rising through faith — 
sublime faith — above all disheartening trials, 
they commenced at once building log huts for 
the winter. During their labours the daily 
meetings were kept up in the same manner as 
they had been during their journey to this 
place. When the shadows of evening fell 
upon them, they seated themselves around a 
fire in the open air ; one of the missionaries 
delivering to the listening circle a discourse, 
or short exhortation. At times, some of the 
strolling savages would also attend, not to hear 
the gospel preached, but to scoff and laugh. 
What a sight ! The genius of religion might 
hover over it, and point to the redeeming power 
, which accompanies the cross of Jesus Christ ! 
Wild savages cleaving to the hope of eternal 
life amid all the ill fortune that seemed at 
every step to mark their Christian pilgrimage ! 
But their joy no man could take from them. 



174 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

Blessed company! nearly a century has elapsed 
since your day ; but the fragrance of your ex- 
ample remains, and it will ever remain. 

Troubles thickened about the new settlement. 
The cattle, finding no good pasture, were con- 
tinually attempting to return, and had to be 
watched. The milch cows failed for want of 
proper food ; a source of great inconvenience, 
especially to such families as had little children. 
Provisions of all kinds were wanting, and when 
the women went into the woods, or to the river 
banks, to obtain roots, they either could not 
find them, or the ground was too hard frozen 
to get at them. Corn was very scarce through- 
out the country ; and such as had it, asked a 
dollar for three or four quarts. Even the tim- 
ber for building was far off, all the country to 
a great extent being a barren prairie, with the 
exception of here and there a few scattered 
trees. Clothes and bedding were also scarce. 
The neighbouring Indians ridiculed their 
sufferings. " Look," said a Monsey chief to 
a Wyandot, " look at these praying Christian 
Indians : — but the other day they were living 
in affluence ; — now they creep about in the 
bushes, looking for roots and berries to keep 
themselves from starving. Well ! they are 
served right ; for why should some live better 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 175 

than others ? We have now brought them on 
a level with us." Besides, Captain Pipe and 
the half-king boasted " that they had it now in 
their power to compel the Christian Indians to 
go to war with them." 

A message about this time was brought from 
Detroit to the missionaries, requiring them to 
proceed to that place. After some consulta- 
tion, it was thought best that Zeisberger, Sen- 
seman, Edwards, and Heckewelder, should go 
to Detroit, while Youngman and Young should 
remain at home, to attend to the concerns of 
the congregation. 

On the morning of the 24th, the four mis- 
sionaries, with several of the Indian brethren, 
among whom was the national assistant, Wil- 
liam Chelloway, who spoke good English, after 
taking leave of their families, and the whole 
congregation, without knowing whether they 
should see each other again, set out for Detroit. 
After a most toilsome journey they reached this 
place, where they met with the most hospitable 
treatment from the inhabitants. A council was 
soon held ; the conduct of the missionaries in- 
vestigated, especially in relation to the course 
they had taken during the war ; and the result 
of the whole was an honourable acquittal. The 
commandant himself, bv whose order their set- 



176 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

tlements had been broken up, and who had also 
required their presence at Detroit, at the close 
of the council, stepping up to the missionaries, 
assured them " that he felt great satisfaction 
and pleasure in seeing their endeavours to 
civilize and Christianize the Indians, and would 
cheerfully permit them to return again to their 
own congregation." 

On leaving the council-house the mission- 
aries were congratulated by many respectable 
inhabitants of the place on their happy acquit- 
tal, and the prospect of again returning to their 
families. Even Captain Pipe made an apology 
for his conduct, alleging that he had been im- 
posed upon by others, and importuned to do 
what he did by those who did not love the 
brethren. 

Many were the acts of kindness the mission- 
aries received while in this city. One mer- 
chant shortly after their arrival returned some 
new clothes belonging to one of them, which 
he had purchased from one of the Indian war- 
riors. Another trader who had purchased of 
the same Indians four silver watches belonging 
to the missionaries, was ordered to deliver 
them to the commandant, who satisfied him 
for them, and returned them to the original 
owners. The commandant also sent a barrel 



SCENES IX THE WILDERNESS. 177 

of pork, with some flour, to Sandusky. Upon 
leaving, this same officer (the innocent cause, 
as the missionaries thought, of all their misfor- 
tunes) parted from them with the most marked 
expressions of esteem, giving them a passport, 
which " permitted them to labour among the 
Christian Indians without molestation." 

On the 14th of November the missionaries 
left Detroit to return home, well supplied with 
warm clothes and blankets, both for themselves 
and their two fellow-labourers. The weather 
was cold, and the ground hard frozen. When 
within one day's journey of Sandusky, a deep 
snow fell, which made it difficult travelling. 
They, however, arrived on the 22d, in the 
evening. The joy on both sides was great. 

In the same spirit of zealous piety, of love 
to God and man, amid the cold of winter, stinted 
fare, and various trials, with cheerful industry 
the Christian Indians, under, as usual, the guid- 
ance, and with the aid of their teachers, built 
a temporary meeting-house. It was constructed 
of log poles, placed upon each other, between 
posts, the crevices being filled with moss ga- 
thered from trees. Here they worshipped God ; 
and the Christmas holydays, notwithstanding 
their poverty, were celebrated with cheerful- 
ness and a blessing. 

12 



178 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

The year 1782 had now commenced — the 
gloomiest year in their whole history. The want 
of provisions was already severely felt. In the 
dead of winter also, toward the end of January, 
greatly did they suffer from the cold, which 
during the nights was almost insupportable. 
They .suffered the more from the extreme seve- 
rity of the weather on account of the small size 
of their huts, which prevented them from having 
large fires. Wood also was scarce. As the 
houses were without floors, when a thaw came 
on, they could scarcely keep their feet dry. 
To add to the distress, the cattle began to 
perish with hunger. The congregation at length 
had no support save the carcasses of the starved 
cattle. In some instances babes perished for 
want of nourishment from their mothers' impo- 
verished breasts. The daily allowance at this 
time was a pint of Indian corn per man a day. 
Now and then they were able to purchase a 
leg of venison of the hunters. 

In these deplorable circumstances, after due 
deliberation, the Indians of their own accord 
came to the conclusion to return to their for- 
saken towns for food. After they had decided 
what to do, they made known their plan to the 
missionaries. It was this : — To proceed to the 
towns, leave their families some distance behind 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 179 

them, to whom they were to bring the com 
from the fields, and who were to bury it in 
holes* made in the ground for the purpose. 
From the place where it was buried they pro- 
posed to fetch it as it was wanted. The plan 
was approved of; caution recommended to 
them ; and having formed themselves into se- 
veral divisions, they set out, in all about one 
hundred and fifty, men, women, and children. 
Each division, it was understood, should work 
upon the corn which they had raised. 

But the missionaries were not allowed 
even now to labour in peace. Such indeed 
was the opposition on the part of the In- 
dians to the settlement, and the labours of 
these devoted men, that early in the spring 
of 1782 the commandant at Detroit deemed 
it best to send a message to the brethren 
to leave Sandusky, and come to Detroit. 
They appear not to have felt at liberty to dis- 
obey this request, or order, and accordingly 
they determined to proceed once more to De- 
troit. Great was the grief of the Indian con- 
gregation at this unexpected intelligence. No- 

* These holes are made round, about three feet deep- 
narrower at the top than at the bottom. After the hole 
is dug, it is burned out, set with bark, and well covered 
after the corn is in. 



180 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

thing but lamentations were heard throughout 
the village. The missionaries grieved as deeply 
as their attached converts. Sorrow seemed to 
follow sorrow, as wave follows wave. To 
heighten their anxiety, the day of their de- 
parture was near at hand ; and the brethren 
and sisters who were busy gathering corn had 
not returned ; neither had they received as 
yet any tidings of the success of their ex- 
pedition. 

The day previous to their departure, how- 
ever, while the missionaries were preparing 
for their journey, the alarm yell was sounded. 
As it drew near, the yell was repeated in such 
quick succession, as gave too clear token of 
bad news. This proved to be the case. On 
the arrival of the runner, who was a Sandusky 
warrior, the mournful tidings were communi- 
cated, that the Christian Indians who had gone 
to the Muskingum to gather corn had been 
attacked by a party of Virginians ; that some 
of the Indians had been murdered, and the rest 
taken prisoners to Pittsburg. This was bad 
news ; but the worst was not told. As this is 
the proper place to introduce the narrative of 
this ill-fated expedition, we shall do so before 
giving an account of the second journey of the 
missionaries to Detroit. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 181 

The first error this simple-minded party of 
Christian Indians committed, was in departing 
from the resolution they had formed of leaving 
their wives and children back in the woods at 
a distance from their former villages, while the 
men went and cautiously gathered the corn. 
But on their way to the Muskingum the party 
met some of their brethren returning from 
Pittsburg, who advised them to proceed direct 
to the towns, assuring them, from their know- 
ledge of the state of the country, that they 
might all work on their corn at leisure without 
any danger. The Christian Indians were easily 
persuaded to follow this advice. They made 
their way as rapidly as possible to their now 
forsaken and desolate towns, and, working day 
and night, made fine progress in gathering and 
husking corn, and securing it in the woods. 
As had been previously agreed on, a party was 
employed at each of the villages. 

The Indians had already gathered a large 
quantity of corn, and were bundling up their 
packs in order to take their final leave of the 
ill-fated place, when suddenly one or two hun- 
dred white people from the Ohio settlements 
made their appearance at Gnadenhutten. When 
within a mile of this village they met with a 
lad, named Joseph Shabosh, whom they cruelly 



182 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

murdered, though he told them he was the son 
of a white man, and begged them in the most 
piteous manner to spare his life. After thus 
whetting their appetites in the warm life-blood 
of this youth, the party came on toward the 
village. The first who discovered them was 
an Indian by the name of Jacob, brother-in-law 
to young Shabosh. He was at the time about 
a hundred and fifty yards from the town, and 
thirty from the river, busy tying up his corn 
sacks on its banks at the sweathouse. For- 
tunately they did not look in the direction 
where he was. He, supposing them to be a 
friendly party, was on the eve of hailing them, 
when, at that instant, they shot at one of the 
brethren who was just crossing the river in a 
canoe to go to the cornfield. Upon seeing this, 
Jacob fled with the utmost precipitation ; and 
before their faces were turned toward him he 
was out of sight. Had he acted with some 
coolness and courage he might have saved 
many a valuable life ; especially by proceeding 
to Salem, where his old father was, and giving 
the alarm. But fear led him to flee several 
miles in a contrary direction, where he hid 
himself a day and a night. 

The Christian Indians were scattered over 
the cornfield at work, when they were ac- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 183 

costed in a friendly manner by the party of 
white men. They said that they came to them 
as friends, and would take them to a much 
more favoured region than the barren plains 
of Sandusky. They then advised them to dis- 
continue their work, and return with them to 
the town ; — to all of which these guileless sons 
of the forest cheerfully assented, never dream- 
ing of being caught like " fish in an evil net, 
and as birds that are caught in the snare." In 
the simplicity of their hearts they rejoiced that 
they had found such friends, and even ima- 
gined that the hand of God was in it, and that 
these men had been providentially sent to lead 
them to a more secure and pleasant resting- 
place. With the same confiding trust in the 
friendly assurances of the white people, the 
Christian Indians who were gathering corn in 
the vicinity of Salem came to Gnadenhutten, 
dazzled and blinded, in their childlike credu- 
lity, by the story of a fairer and more fertile 
spot as a residence. Simple children of the 
forest, how dove-like had Christianity made 
you! How little did you know of deliberate 
deceit and base treachery ! Hence, as sheep 
to the slaughter, these innocent, trusting In- 
dians, came to Gnadenhutten. 

When the Christian Indians arrived at the 



184 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

river bank, opposite Griaderihutten, their eyes 
began to open ; but it was now too late. They 
discovered a spot of blood on the sand, which, 
like the print of the solitary footstep on Robin- 
son Crusoe's desolate island, excited disquie- 
tude and alarm. Soon these boding fears 
received full confirmation. As soon as they 
entered the town all were seized, and placed 
in confinement — brethren, sisters, and chil- 
dren ; and in the same house with that divi- 
sion of their party at Gnadenhutten, which had 
been just seized. Here they met, associates 
for the last time in sorrow. They mingled 
their sympathies and their tears together ; and 
their prayers ascended, like a cloud of holy 
incense, into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 

The charges which the white men alleged 
against them were in the highest degree frivo- 
lous, and without foundation. It was asserted 
that their horses, as also their axes, pewter 
basins, and spoons, and indeed all they pos- 
sessed, had been taken from the white people ; 
and also that they were warriors, and not Chris- 
tian Indians. On such charges were they all 
condemned to die, and that too upon the spot, 
at the moment, without any previous warning 
or preparation. 

The entreaties of the poor Indians were dis- 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 185 

regarded. On the contrary, some, more blood- 
thirsty than the rest, were anxious to begin the 
work of death without delay. A brief respite 
was all that was given to prepare for death. 
They now all kneeled down together, asking 
pardon for whatever offence they had given, or 
grief they had occasioned each other. They 
then offered fervent prayers to God their Sa- 
viour, and kissed one another. In this hour 
the consolations of divine grace abounded 
in their souls. Thus supported and cheered, 
though bathed in tears, they were fully resigned 
to the will of God, singing praises unto him in 
the joyful hope that they would soon be relieved 
from all pains, and join their Redeemer in ever- 
lasting bliss. 

While the victims were thus engaged, im- 
proving the few moments of life that remained, 
the cool-blooded murderers were employed de- 
liberating upon the manner of their death. Some 
proposed burning them alive ; others wished to 
take their scalps as a token of the deed. A few 
proposed milder measures ; but the voice of 
mercy was overruled. It was determined to 
murder them one by one. 

The time having arrived for the opening of 
the awful scene, the murderers came to them 
while they were engaged in singing, and ask- 



186 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

ing if they were ready, received as a reply, 
that " they had commended themselves to God, 
who had given them the assurance in their 
hearts that he would receive their souls." 
Upon this, one of the party, taking up a coop- 
er's mallet, (the house had been occupied by a 
cooper,) said, looking at it, and handling it, 
" How exactly this will answer for the busi- 
ness." With this as the instrument of death, 
he began with Abraham, and continued knock- 
ing down one after the other, until he had killed 
fourteen with his own hands. He now handed 
the instrument to 'one of his fellow-murderers, 
saying, " My arm fails me ; go on in the same 
way ; I think I have done pretty well."* Thus 
these miscreants went on until they had but- 
chered ninety-six in cold blood. After they 
had finished the horrid deed they went a small 
distance from the house of slaughter ; but after 
awhile, returning, again to the scene, they saw 
one by the name of Abel, who, though scalped 
and mangled, was attempting to rise. They 
repeated the blow, and he fell to rise no more. 
After this they set fire to the house, and with 
shouts and yells more savage than ever rose in 
that wilderness before, or since, they departed. 

* This was related by a lad who escaped out of the 
house, and who understood English well. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 187 

Of the whole number slain, sixty-two were 
grown persons, one-third of whom were wo- 
men ; and the remaining thirty-four were chil- 
dren. Five of the men were respectable native 
assistants : Samuel Moore, Tobias, Jonas, Isaac 
Glichican, and John Martin. Samuel Moore 
and Tobias had been members of the congre- 
gation of that eminently devoted servant of God, 
and most faithful missionary, David Brainerd. 
After his death they left New-Jersey, and joined 
themselves to the Christian Indians living on 
the Susquehannah. Samuel was a very useful 
member of the church : he had received his 
education under Mr. Brainerd ; could read, and 
was so well acquainted with the English lan- 
guage, that for many years he was an interpret- 
er of the sermons preached. He was perhaps 
never seen unemployed. He was fond of read- 
ing, and took especial delight in the Bible and 
Hymn-book. Tobias, the other Indian convert 
of Brainerd's, also led the life of a true Chris- 
tian. His appearance alone commanded re- 
spect. Jonas also bore an excellent character. 
Isaac Glichican, previously to his conversion, 
stood very high among his countrymen, both in 
council and in the field. As a Christian he 
was highly esteemed, and very useful. He 
was distinguished also for his wisdom ; and 



188 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

though he seems to have thought it wrong to 
resist even open and violent enemies, yet he 
never showed the least fear. John Martin, one 
of the chapel interpreters at Gnadenhutten, was 
also an exemplary and worthy man. Three 
of these five brethren were above sixty, and 
the other two about fifty years of age. Many 
of the brethren and sisters who were murdered 
were born of Christian parents in the society. 

Among the number doomed to die, two youths, 
about fourteen and fif -3en years of age, happily 
escaped. One of these, by the name of Thomas, 
was knocked down and scalped with the rest. 
Recovering a little, he looked around, and saw 
Abel, with the blood running down his face, 
attempting to rise. With great presence of 
mind he quickly laid himself down again, think- 
ing that, perhaps, some might return to examine 
if all were really dead. He had scarcely placed 
himself in his former position when the sound 
of footsteps and voices was heard ; and several 
men coming in, saw Abel, as we have men- 
tioned, still alive, and soon despatched him. 
"When they had done this, the men went out. 
Thomas, thinking this the proper time to attempt 
his escape, crept over the dead bodies to the 
door, still keeping himself in such a position 
as easily to feign death if any should approach. 



5< EXES IN THE WILDERN1 189 

No one came ; and as it began to be dusk, he 
quickly got out at the door, and went to the 
back side of the house, where he hid himself 
until it was quite dark, when he escaped. 
Another lad escaped by raising a plank which 
served as a trap-door to the cellar which was 
under the floor. He got out of the cellar through, 
a small hole cut for a window ; and also es- 
caped. These two lads fortunately met in the 
woods, and journeying on together, reached 
Sandusky in safety. 

Those who were gathering corn in the vici- 
nity of the other settlement, Shoenbrun, provi- 
dentially escaped. This happened as follows : — 
The Indian who had been despatched from 
Sandusky to recall the Indians home, and to 
inform them of the departure of the mission- 
aries, arrived at the once fair village of Shoen- 
brun on the 6th of March. Exhausted as he 
was with fatigue, he remained at Shoenbrun 
while two other brethren were sent with the 
message to Gnadenhutten and Salem. " As 
they walked and were sad," conversing on the 
expected loss of their beloved teachers, to their 
surprise they discovered the tracks of horses' 
shoes along and beside the path ; and when 
within one or two miles of Gnadenhutten they 
cautiously followed the tracks. They had not 



190 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

proceeded far when they saw the dead and 
mangled body of young Shabosh, with his scalp 
taken off. Shocked as they were at the sudden 
and ghastly sight, and though they knew danger 
was near, yet, with cool composure and cou- 
rage, they buried the body, and then hastily 
returned to Shoenbrun. The fate of Shabosh 
led them to conclude that, in all probability, 
their brethren had all fallen by the same cruel 
hands ; though whence the blow, they knew 
not. Concluding that Shoenbrun would soon 
be attacked, they prepared to fly with all speed 
from so dangerous a spot. In their haste they 
forgot their canoe. That night the trembling 
fugitives slept about two miles and a half from 
the village, on the opposite side of the river. 
Very early the next morning, before it was 
light, several of the Indian brethren returned 
to Shoenbrun for the canoe. Scarcely w r ere 
they three hundred yards from the town, and 
as yet in sight of it, when they heard the tramp- 
ling of horses' feet. Watching the movements 
of the party, they saw the place surrounded 
with horsemen. The party, after some exami- 
nation, finding no trace of the Indians, soon 
rode off. Upon their departure, the Indians, 
in their canoe, shot forth from their hiding- 
place, and soon rejoined the rest of the party. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 191 

Without provisions, and oppressed with fear, 
they sorrowfully retraced their steps to San- 
dusky. On their journey they endured many 
hardships. Hunger pinched the pilgrim com- 
pany : one infant perished for want of suit- 
able nourishment. At length they reached 
Sandusky in a far more deplorable condition 
than when they set out for the Muskingum. 
They returned to a dreary country ; and, to 
add to their distress, they returned to take an- 
other leave of their teachers. Well might 
they say with the patriarch Jacob, " All these 
things are against me." Yet, amid all, they 
trusted in God, and took courage. The day 
after the return of the remnant of the Indian 
party from the Muskingum, the missionaries 
set out on their journey to Detroit. 



192 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



CHAPTER IX. 

As sinks the bright unclouded sun at eve 
In one full gush of splendour, yet to leave 
A lingering radiance on the earth and heaven, 
Thus, to the great and good, departing majesty was given. 

As the old patriarchs aforetime slept, • 
While trusty tribes around their guardian wept ; 
Thus from the Indian sky a sun descended, — 
Their noblest friend no more — Zeisberger's mission ended. 

The missionaries, Zeisberger, Heckewel- 
der, Senseman, Youngman, Edwards, and 
Young,* with their wives and children, having 
previously made the best arrangements in their 
power for the welfare of the Indian congrega- 
tion during their separation, departed on the 
appointed da}'' from Upper Sandusky. Many 
of the brethren and sisters accompanied them 
part of the way, the sisters carrying two male 
children of the missionaries on their backs, 
well secured in their blankets from the wet 
and cold. After travelling several days through 
the wilderness and swampy grounds, they 
reached Lower Sandusky. Here they were 
detained several weeks, receiving all the while 
the most hospitable treatment. While they 

* Edwards and Younor were not married. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 193 

remained in this place they were also fre- 
quently visited by the members of their con- 
gregation. On the 14th of April they left 
Lower Sandusky, embarking in boats for De- 
troit, at which place they arrived on the 10th 
of May. On the voyage they received the 
utmost kindness. Arriving at Detroit, they 
were received with marked respect and plea- 
sure by the commandant, who informed them 
that his only object in sending for them to 
return to Detroit, was to escape the dangers 
which he knew they were exposed to while at 
Sandusky. He now left it entirely to their 
option either to remain at Detroit, or to be sent 
by way of the lakes to Bethlehem. In the 
meanwhile they were first lodged in a new 
room in the barracks ; and after a few weeks 
removed to a newly finished house, about one 
hundred yards from the town, where they en- 
joyed more rest and quiet. 

While the missionaries were thus surrounded 
by friends, and in the enjoyment of many mer- 
cies, they learned through an English trader, 
who had been at the Christian Indians' village 
at Upper Sandusky, that their congregation 
regularly held their accustomed religious ser- 
vices, mutually encouraging each other to faith- 
fulness ; and, with the exception of a few who 

13 



194 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

unhappily forsook the fold, continued to " stand 
fast in the Lord." But a dark cloud still hung 
over the solitary and afflicted flock. The half- 
king, the agent of their removal from Sandusky, 
whose residence, as our readers are aware, was 
in this vicinity, finally, without assigning any 
reasons for his conduct, peremptorily ordered 
them to leave entirely this region of country. 
This order was obeyed ; and the Indian con- 
gregation was broken up and scattered in va- 
rious directions. Before they separated they 
agreed, as soon as they could effect it, to reas- 
semble, and form another settlement on the 
Miami of the Lake. 

A door, however, was soon opened, through 
the British commandant at Detroit, for the mis- 
sionaries to gather around them once more in 
this dark and cloudy day their scattered flock. 
The country on the river Huron, about thirty 
miles north of Detroit, was suggested by him 
to the missionaries as offering every advantage 
for an Indian settlement. The missionaries, 
cheerfully and thankfully acceding to the 
friendly proposal, the commandant obtained 
permission of the Chippeways, who claimed 
the land, and whose assent was therefore ne- 
cessary to be obtained, for the brethren to 
settle here until the return of peace. These 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 195 

arrangements having been, satisfactorily con- 
cluded, messages were sent to the scattered 
Indians, inviting them to rejoin their teachers, 
and form a new mission village on the Huron. 
Soon the missionaries were cheered with the 
sight of some of their congregation. In the 
month of July, while yet at Detroit, two fami- 
lies arrived ; and shortly after two other fami- 
lies, with whom was the venerable native 
assistant, Abraham. These four families erect- 
ed huts near the dwelling of the missionaries, 
and were daily supplied with provisions out of 
the king's stores. The whole number now at 
Detroit was twenty-five. Thus, once more as- 
sembled " with one accord in one place," they 
held, as usual, daily meetings. When the wea- 
ther was fair, this was done in the open air. 
Many of the citizens attended ; as also some 
American prisoners who were confined near the 
dwelling of the missionaries. All admired the 
singing and the devotion of the Indians ; and 
joy once more hovered over their habitations. 

About this time aid and encouragement were 
derived from an unexpected quarter. The ac- 
count of the massacre of the Indians on the 
Muskingum had reached London ; from which 
place they received letters, dated 19th and 
20th March, 1782, enclosing a draft on a 



196 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

trading house in Montreal for one hundred 
pounds sterling. This aid came at a most 
seasonable hour, giving them the means to 
purchase many necessary articles which were 
required in commencing their new settlement. 

All things being ready, on the 20th of July, 
five of the missionaries, with nineteen Indians, 
set out by water, in a boat given to them by 
the commandant, on their new enterprise. 
They arrived at their place of destination on 
the evening of the next day. They brought 
with them provisions, a quantity of plank, two 
milch cows, some horses, roots, garden seeds, 
&c; all furnished by the same humane officer, 
and his kind, attentive wife. The first meet- 
ing was held on the evening of their arrival. 
Thanks and praises to the Lord for his mer- 
cies were offered by the happy little band ; 
and his continued blessing, assistance, and 
protection implored. The new place was 
called Gnadenhutten. 

The congregation slowly increased. On the 
21st of September communion was held here 
for the first time ; and on the 5th of November 
the meeting-house was consecrated ; at which 
time fifty-three were present, including the mis- 
sionaries, Senseman and Heckewelder, who 
had now rejoined the congregation. 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 197 

The Chippevvays beginning to visit the set- 
tlement, religious instruction was diligently 
given them by the native assistants, but with 
iittle effect. They were found to be a people 
of scarcely any reflection, caring for little else 
than the supply of their daily wants. And for 
this they depended chiefly upon hunting and 
fishing ; eating many things which a Delaware 
or Shawanese Indian would not relish ; as for 
instance, frogs, muskrats, dogs, and even the 
flesh of dead horses, like the Calmuc Tar- 
tars. 

At the commencement of the year 1783 the 
missionaries and their Indian congregation were 
comfortably accommodated with dwellings. Be- 
ing pleasantly situated, and constantly and use- 
fully employed, the cold and dreary winter 
glided rapidly away. The Indians were em- 
ployed in making canoes, baskets, bowls, ladles, 
brooms, and, in the spring, maple sugar, of 
which they made a great quantity. These va- 
rious articles they exchanged in the settlements 
of the French Canadians for provisions. As 
game also was plenty, they took such meat as 
they did not want for their own use, with 
skins and furs, to Detroit, where they ex- 
changed them for wearing apparel. In July 
of this year the joyful tidings reached the set- 



198 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

tlement that peace was concluded between 
Great Britain and the United States. 

The scattered Indians by degrees returned 
to the fold. In the course of 1783 forty-three 
returned at one time. Peace reigned in the 
community ; religion flourished. During this 
year several of the congregation made a happy 
exit from time to eternity. The new year, 
1784, opened with violent storms, and intense 
cold. The rivers, creeks, and the lake St. 
Clair, were soon covered with ice, which, 
from day to day, became thicker and stronger. 
Next came a fall of snow, two feet deep, and 
in a few days after another of much greater 
depth ; so that both together measured full five 
feet on a level. The Indians soon began to 
suffer, and the missionaries, in a great mea- 
sure, with them. To increase the distress of 
the Indian congregation, though they had 
planted large crops of corn, yet, unacquainted 
with the climate, they had planted the wrong 
kind, which, when the kernel was yet soft, 
was exposed to the hard frosts which set 
in, and so rendered unfit for use. Grain 
was scarce also through the whole country ; 
and the winter being one of uncommon seve- 
rity, those who had grain would not part with 
any, but kept it to save themselves and their 



6CENEi> IN nil. WILDERNESS. 199 

cattle from starving. Gloomy was the pros- 
pect. Many an emaciated countenance gave 
sad token of pinching want. The cattle suf- 
fered greatly from the cold and the driving 
storm, as no stables had yet been built ; while 
what fodder they had was of a poor quality, 
the frost having injured it before it was cut 
and cured. It was also, though in a woody 
country, no easy task to obtain firewood ; for, 
when the trees were cut down, the trunks were 
buried in the snow. 

During this gloomy and suffering winter the 
hand of Providence was seen, and gratefully 
acknowledged, in an unlooked-for supply of 
food for the perishing cattle. While the In- 
dian village was almost buried in snow, and 
the cattle, destitute of shelter, crowded, shiver- 
ing, around the doors, it was observed that 
they would raise their heads toward the river, 
which was but a short distance off, as if they 
wished to go there. The Indians, supposing 
from this that they wanted drink, melted snow 
to satisfy their thirst. This did not seem to 
answer ; the cattle still continued castino- wish- 
ful looks, with their noses raised, as if they 
wanted something in that direction. While 
the missionaries were at a loss to know the 
cause, two deer came down the river on the 



200 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

ice, opposite the village, and were shot. Upon 
opening them to see what they fed upon, it 
was found that their stomachs were filled 
with scrub grass. This was enough. The In- 
dians immediately turned out, and worked a 
way for the cattle to the river. Soon as the 
path was made the cattle hastened eagerly to 
the bank of the river, and ranging along it, 
found green scrub grass pasture in abundance. 
This also served as a clew to the Indians to 
guide them to the spots where the deer resort- 
ed ; this grass growing not only around the 
river, but hundreds of acres along the frozen 
ponds in the vicinity of the settlement ; while 
such was the depth of the snow, the deer could 
not escape. Great numbers were shot ; so that 
during the three months the snow was so deep 
one hundred deer were brought in from the 
rush meadows on the river. Some of the deer 
were run down by the dogs, brought alive to 
the village, fed with the scrub grass gathered 
for that purpose, and in the spring taken to 
Detroit and sold. Hogs, fowls, and horses all 
ate of this grass ; though in the case of horses, 
owing to the effect of the sharp grass upon the 
stomach, if they fed upon it much more than 
four or five weeks they would die. 

During this severe winter it was found that 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 201 

from the beginning of January, when the snow 
first fell, to the beginning of March, there were 
not more than four days of clear sunshine. The 
sky was daily more or less overcast. The snow 
settled, and became so hard, that one could walk 
over it. By the second week in April it had 
diminished so much that the Indians began to 
manufacture maple sugar. Soon after this the 
ice in the river broke up and disappeared ; fish 
were now caught ; and after the snow had en- 
tirely melted, the Indians gathered cranberries 
and crab-apples, and dug up wild potatoes. 
Thus closed this memorable winter, during 
which a wise and benign Providence provided 
so amply for their wants in the dreary climate 
in which their lot had been so unexpectedly 
cast. 

The new Gnadenhutten had now become a 
pleasant place. A street having been laid out 
regularly, gave it a good appearance ; to which 
the adjoining cleared lands and gardens added 
not a little. Many from Detroit visited the set- 
tlement ; and the fame of its neatness, industry, 
and harmony went abroad. But ill-fortune, as 
usual, betided the Christian Indian town. The 
Chippeways becoming discontented, and com- 
plaining of the brethren's remaining in their 
best hunting ground after the conclusion of 



20J SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

peace, they were compelled to make prepara- 
tions for another removal. They, therefore, 
determined to recross the lake to the United 
States, and return to the Muskingum, congress 
having especially reserved for their use the land 
on this river formerly occupied by the brethren. 
On the 20th of April, 1786, the Indian con- 
gregation met, for the last time, in the chapel, 
to offer up prayers and praises to the Lord. 
After this they set out in canoes for Detroit. 
On the 28th they embarked in two trading ves- 
sels for Cuyahoga, on the south side of Lake 
Erie. After a most tempestuous and tedious 
voyage, during which they were detained four 
weeks by contrary winds, they reached Cuya- 
hoga River about the 18th of June ; and as the 
season was now too far advanced to proceed to 
the Muskingum, they concluded to remain for 
the present on this river, about a dozen miles 
from Lake Erie, plant their corn, harvest it, and 
then proceed to their old settlements. It was 
well they were detained. The country was yet 
in too unsettled a state ; and there appeared, 
both on the part of the white people and of the 
warrior Indians, a fixed determination not to 
allow the brethren to return to the Muskingum. 
Their detention was probably the means of 
saving the congregation from being murdered 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 203 

either by the Indians or the lawless settlers on 
the frontiers. As it was, they found it neces- 
sary for their safety to recross the lake, and 
seek a shelter in Canada. The Indians were 
on the eve of a war with the American govern- 
ment ; and had the brethren remained on the 
Cuyahoga they would have been exposed to 
imminent danger. Urged by well-grounded 
fears, on the 19th of April, 1790, they left this 
river ; and after various fruitless attempts to 
effect a settlement in the United States, they 
returned to Detroit. A tract of land on the 
river Thames was allotted them for a resi- 
dence. Here a town was built, which was 
called Fairfield. 

At a later period, in 1797, a new attempt was 
made to rebuild the villages on the Muskingum, 
but it was not very successful. A brief detail 
of this last effort to re-establish themselves in 
their old settlements will be all that is required. 
Peace having been finally concluded with the 
Indians, the American government laid off three 
separate tracts of land, of four thousand acres 
each, for the use of the Christian Indians, in- 
cluding their former towns of Gnadenhutten, 
Salem, and Shoenbrun. In the spring of 1798, 
Heckewelder, with the aged missionary, Ed- 
wards, began a settlement at Gnadenhutten. 



204 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

In October the missionaries Zeisberger and 
Mortimer came from Fairfield, with a number 
of the Christian Indians, and laid out a village 
on the Shoenbrun tract, about seven miles from 
Gnadenhutten, which they called Goshen. Gna- 
denhutten seems not to have flourished, but Go- 
shen was continued as a mission settlement ; 
and at this place Zeisberger spent the last, years 
of his long and checkered life. Here he died 
in November, 1808, aged eighty-seven years 
and seven months. 

The following touching account of his death 
is taken from Carne's " Lives of Eminent Mis- 
sionaries :" — 

" In October, 1808, in his eighty-eighth year, 
he perceived that his end was approaching. His 
illness was short, without pain or suffering : the 
lamp of life burned mildly away. ' The only 
thing that troubled him,' he said, ' was the pre- 
sent spiritual state of his Indian people.' These 
expressions having been told to them, they all 
gathered around the dwelling, and, in different 
groups, entered the chamber of the dying man. 
' My father,' they said, ' forgive us all we have 
done to grieve you. We will surrender our 
hearts to our Saviour, and live alone for him in 
the world.' The venerable man, totally blind, 
the moment of dissolution close at hand, was 



SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 205 

supported in his bed, while his face was turned 
earnestly toward the penitents, though he saw 
them no more. He blessed them fervently ; 
then, with that kindness and seriousness which 
he knew so well how to combine in his con- 
verse with the Indians, he warned them against 
the dangers to which they were exposed, the 
vices in which they had indulged. ' I am go- 
ing, my people,' he continued, ' to rest from all 
my labour, and be at home with the Lord. He 
has never forsaken me in distress, and will not 
forsake me now. I have reviewed my whole 
course of life, and found that there is much to 
be forgiven.' The Indians saw that his life was 
departing, and they would not forsake the cham- 
ber. When he ceased to breathe, the whole 
company knelt down and prayed. He had at- 
tained the age of eighty-eight years. No other 
man, perhaps, ever existed who knew so much 
of the manners, usages, and minds of the Indian 
tribes. His usefulness was exceeding great. 
Had he sought power for himself, his ascend- 
ency with the Iroquois and the Dela wares would 
soon have insured its possession ; but the only 
glory he loved was that of his Redeemer." 

The settlement at Goshen was suspended in 
1822. The missionary, Mr. Bardil, who at the 
time laboured here, returned with his assistant 



206 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

to Bethlehem ; and those of the Indians who 
seriously desired the means of grace, removed 
to Fairfield, in Canada, where they were re- 
ceived with every token of affection. Various 
attempts were made to establish missions in 
other parts of the Indian country, and among 
different tribes of savages ; but not meeting with 
much success, they were, one after the other, 
relinquished. Such was the fate of the settle- 
ment on the Wabash ; also on the Flint River, 
among the Creeks ; likewise at Petquottink, near 
Lake Erie, and among the Chippeways in Ca- 
nada. One settlement, formed at Spring Place, 
among the Cherokee Indians, we believe still 
flourishes. The most important is Fairfield, or, 
as it is now called, New-Fairfield. As it was 
a hiding-place from the storm, so it still con- 
tinues to form a home for the almost homeless 
Indian, where, under the shade of " his own 
vine and fig-tree," he can rest in peace. 

At the termination of the last war the Indian 
congregation built a town on the opposite side 
of the river, which they called New-Fairfield ; 
and where they removed in the autumn of 1815. 
At this time the congregation consisted of one 
hundred and nine persons, and in 1827 of one 
hundred and eighty-four persons. At the close of 
1830 the mission was in a flourishing condition. 



SCENES I.\ THE WILDERNESS. 207 

Thus we close our mournful narrative, inclu- 
ding a period of about one hundred years. Since 
the year 1740, when the brethren commenced 
their labours, the various places in the depth of 
the wilderness where they preached the gos- 
pel, and formed villages, have been changed into 
smiling, cultivated fields. The Indian has retired 
further and further from his hunting grounds, and 
from the rivers and the lakes he loved, vainly re- 
sisting the constantly encroaching tide of the 
white population. The places too, where, through 
the labours of the Moravian missionary, the In- 
dian was taught to pray — where arose the spire 
of the Indian's chapel, and where, on the fra- 
grant breath of morn, and at still eventide, as- 
cended the song of praise — all these beautiful 
spots have disappeared ; every trace of them 
has been obliterated. Still the labours of these 
good men have not been wholly lost. The re- 
cords of their pious toils show, that from the 
year 1740 to 1808 — from the commencement 
of the mission among the Mohicans on the bor- 
ders of the states of New-York and Connecti- 
cut, to the death of Zeisberger — between thir- 
teen and fourteen hundred souls were baptized ; 
of whom a considerable number departed this 
life in the Christian faith, rejoicing in the hope 
of soon being in the presence of their Redeemer. 



208 SCENES IN THE WILDERNESS. 

That the gospel came to these poor children 
of the forest not in word only, but in power, 
ample evidence has been given in this narrative. 
The gospel softened and subdued the wildest 
natures ; and the once fierce and merciless war- 
rior sat at the feet of the teacher of peace, list- 
ening to lessons of mercy, and praying for grace 
to tread in the footsteps of his Saviour. What 
fervent prayers went up from the midst of the 
wilderness ! What divine consolation filled the 
hearts of these joyful worshippers ! On the 
Lehigh, the Susquehannah, the Muskingum, 
amid war, death, heartless persecution, painful 
wanderings and famine, cold and nakedness, 
the missionaries and their Indian converts en- 
dured all toils and trials as seeing Him who is 
invisible ; and now together, under a cloudless 
sky, in a serene atmosphere, with no wave of 
trouble to roll across their peaceful breasts, they 
for ever praise Him who " called them out of 
darkness into his marvellous light." 



THE END, 



























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